
Class JS.i 

Book tG.€ >' S G C l 

GoBTightlJ" 



COIYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 






•5^^ 




REV. J. B. GRAW. D.D. 



Forty-six Years in the Methodist Ministry 



LIRE OR 

RevjrB.Graw, D.D. 

1832-1901 



Pastor, Soldier, Reformer, Presiding Elder 






THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two COPi£5 Receiveb 

)UL. 25 1901 

Copyright entry 

CLASS 0<^ XXe. N». 

COPY B. 



A. C. CRAW 

AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER 



« • • 



Copyright 1901, b/ 
A. C. Graw 



Camden, N. J. 
Aug.l, 1901 



PREFACE. 



^^^ HE career of Rev. Jacob B. Graw, D.D., shows 
\A^ what can be done where pluck, energy and 
persistence work in harmony and have full 
and unrestricted sway. 

At the age of four the father's death left him with- 
out the protection and guidance of a godly and indul- 
gent parent, whose loss was partly compensated by 
the loving ministrations of th© mother, and the oldest 
brother, John. 

This poor farmer's boy encountered all- the obstacles 
that beset the path of poverty, acquired an educa- 
tion, fitted himself for the -ministry and began his life 
work at Chatham, where nine probationers were 
added to the church the first year as the result of his 
diligent efforts. 

When the president called for volunteers, he enlisted 
as chaplain and served a year and six months. His 
health becoming impaired he returned to the pastor- 
ateand subsequently achieved marked success as pas- 
tor, preacher, church builder and presiding elder. 
He served on five Districts in the Conference with 
such conspicuous ability that no one questions his 
right to the title of premier presiding elder. Eight 
times he was a delegate to the General Conference. 
His greatest work was the building of First M. E. 
Church, Camden. 



PREFACE. 

Considerable space has been given to his temper- 
ance record, with no thought of exploiting any politi- 
cal theories Dr. Graw may have held, but for the 
single purpose of chronicling facts as they occurred 
in his career. His devotion to the cause of Prohibi- 
tion was intense and sincere. 

It is utterly impossible to compress within the limits 
of a book of ordinary size the record of the sayings 
and doings of such a busy worker in church and phil- 
anthropic enterprises. Much has been omitted that 
could have been used to excellent advantage, if space 
permitted. ♦ » • ^ .4 

Dr. Graw never took a vacation and was unostenta- 
tious in dress and deportment. He never asked a 
friend to join him in undertakings of a financial nature 
until he had invested of his own resources to their 
utmost limit. If he made a mistake in this respect, it 
was of the head and not of the heart. 

No preacher in distress ever called on Dr. Grav/ 
without receiving all the assistance in his power. His 
sympathy went out to those needing help, and was 
never denied a worthy man or cause. 

The author is under obligations to the special con- 
tributors, and also to those who have furnished in- 
formation which has assisted materially in the prepar- 
ation of the historical portions of this biography, and 
he takes this method of publicly rendering thanks 
where so eminently due. The spirit of unselfish co- 
operation manifested has lightened the author's labors 
and made an otherwise difficult task, comparatively 
easy and satisfactory. ' THE AUTHOR. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 
Ancestry 1 1 

CHAPTER n. 
Beginning of His Ministry — Chatham, 1854 22 

CHAPTER III. 
Staten Island — 1855-56 33 

CHAPTER IV. 
Freehold— 1857-1858 40 

CHAPTER V. 
Haddonfield — 1859-1860 45 

CHAPTER VI. 
Bridgeton — 1861 (Part of) — and Army Life 49 

CHAPTER VII. 
South Street, Salem— 1863-1864 65 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Lambertville— 1865-1867 74 

Sketch of Rev. George Whitefield 75 

CHAPTER IX. 
Long Branch— 1868- 1 870 80 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER X. 
Presiding Elder Burlington District — 1871-1874 90 

CHAPTER XL 
General Conference 1872 — By Dr. Ballard 95 

CHAPTER XII. 
Trip to England — By Dr. G. K. Morris 100 

CHAPTER XIII. 

New Brunswick District — 1875-1877 107 

Sketch of Island Heights 112 

CHAPTER XIV. 
General Conference of 1876 — By Dr. O'Hanlon 119 

CHAPTER XV. 
Third Street Church— 1878-1880 123 

CHAPTER XVI. 

General Conference of 1880— By Dr. W. W. Moffett i37 

Sketch of Dr. Buckley I39 

CHAPTER XVII. 
His Earlier Temperance Record 141 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Aggressive Work for Prohibition 176 

Tribute to Bishop Simpson 198 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Centennial of Methodism 207 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XX. 
Camden District— 1881-1884 212 

CHAPTER XXI. 
General Conference of 1884 — By Rev. D. H. Schock 220 

CHAPTER XXII. 
Tlie 1886 Fisk Campaign ..,223 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
Trenton District— 1885-1890 241 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
General Conference of 1888 — Extracts from Letters 253 

CHAPTER XXV. 
The La Monte Campaign — 1889 261 

CHAPTER XXVI. 
First Church, Camden — 1891-1895 268 

CHAPTER XXVII. 
General Conference of 1892 — By Dr. Hewitt 276 

CHAPTER XXVin. 
Battle against Race Track Iniquity 282 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
Trip to the Northwest in 1893 286 

CHAPTER XXX. 
Dedication of First Church, Camden 295 

CHAPTER XXXL 
General Conference of 1896 — By Dr. Wight 302 



CONTENTS. ' " ^ 

CHAPTER XXXII. 
First Church, Trenton — 1896-1897 311 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 
The Conference of 1898 318 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 
Sketches of Camp Meetings of which Dr. Graw was Presi- 
dent 324 

CHAPTER XXXV. 
Historical Sketch of Millville Methodism ^32 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 
General Conference of 1900 — By Dr. Marshall 338 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 
The Last Year of Service 355 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
The Funeral Services 367 



APPENDIX. 

Notable Revivals *. 390 

Minutes Adopted by Societies, etc 399 

Unpublished Letters 403 

Letters of Condolence 4^5 

Statistical Summary W. C T. U 409 

"The Lord and Gideon," Song by Dr. Gilmour; dedicated 

to Dr. Graw 4io 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Frontispiece — Rev. J. B. Gravv, D.D. 

Chatham Church 24 

Old John Street Church 34 

Kingsley Church, Staten Island Zl 

Dr. Graw, aged 40 49 

Dr. Graw (taken in 1863) 65 

Lambertville Church 74 

Centenary Church, Long Branch 80 

Mrs. Isabella S. Graw 96 

Island Heights 112 

Old Third Street Church, Camden 122 

Group Picture (Dr. Graw, J. L. Hays, W. H. Skirm) 130 

Dr. S. W. Lake and E. B. Lake I49 

W. H. Nicholson, J. H. Boswell, J. W. Morris 167 

Dr. Stokes, J. J. Graw, A. K. Street 185 

Drs. Ballard, Moffett, Hewitt, and Schock 203 

Rev. S. Vansant 213 

Gen. Fisk 237 

Dr. O'Hanlon 255 

Geo. La Monte, Joel W. Brown 2^1 

S. B. Goff 275 

First Church, Camden 291 

Dr. Wight 303 

First Church, Trenton 310 

Dr. Marshall 343 

Woodstown Church 361 



Life and Times 

-OF — 

Rev. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 



CHAPTER I. 

ANCESTRY, 

©WING to the fact that Dr. Graw's parents 
were born in Germany it is difficult to obtain 
the data needed to trace his Hneage back 
further than the second generation. Little is known 
of his grandparents, Bernhard Graw (the name was 
formerly spelled Grau), and his wife, Barbara, whose 
maiden name was Klotzing. Barbara Klotzing's 
father was a miller and millwright. In those days 
millers were compelled to submit to rigid official ex- 
aminations as to their qualifications and skill and he 
must have been a tradesman of more than average 
intelligence. 

George Jacob Graw, son of Bernhard Graw, was 
born April i6, 1794, in Eppingen, Grossherzogthum 
Baden, and was married at Gundelsheim, Grand 
Duchy Baden, on the 26th of August, 181 7, to 
Louisa Carolina Wolf, daughter of David Wolf and 
Johanna Schaefer. Louisa Carolina Wolf was born 
December 8, 1796, in Gundelsheim, Grossherzog- 



12 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

thum Baden; died February 2y, 1879, and is buried 
at Indianapolis, Ind. George Jacob Graw died on his 
farm near Rahway December 11, 1836. 

Baden, the most important of the six Grand Duch- 
ies of Germany, had a population of 1,656,817 at the 
last census. It has an area of 5821 square miles, over 
half of which is under cultivation. About half the 
population follow farming, the balance being engaged 
in the manufacture of silk ribbon, leather, paper, and 
card board, clocks, musical instruments and chemi- 
cals. Baden and Alsace-Lorraine lead in the pro- 
duction of German wines. 

In 1828 Dr. Graw's parents came to America and 
settled at Communipaw (near Jersey City, N. J.) His 
mother had been converted in Germany and was a 
member of the Lutheran Church. While living in 
Germany his father became deeply concerned about 
his soul's salvation, but did not find peace until he 
came to this country. At Communipaw the Graw 
family were associated with Dr. McClintock, who af- 
terwards became famous for his scholarship ; Daniel 
Welsh, in whose house the first class meeting was 
held, and from which originated the first local Meth- 
odist church ; Rev. Thomas Stewart, an earnest, suc- 
cessful preacher; John and Minot VanHome, and 
others whose names are connected with the work of 
local Methodism in its infancy. George Graw was 
on terms of close intimacy with Dr. McClintock, and 
often walked arm in arm with him to and from church 
services, accompanied by his little daughter, Louisa 
Graw. Very few of the Methodists of those early 
days remain, but the results of their labors are every- 
where manifest. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 



13 



The Graw family did not long remain in Commun- 
ipaw, although the surroundings were so pleasant. 
It was here the father united with the local church 
after obtaining the rest of soul he had before sought 
in vain. But he preferred the free and untrammeled 
life of a farmer, and most of the residents of Com- 
munipaw were fishermen — followers of the sea. Be- 




SCTJDDEE S SCHOOLHOUSE, PICTON. 



sides he wished to experiment with cuttings of valua- 
ble grape vines which he had imported from his old 
home. If he were successful in producing grapes 
such as were grown near Eppingen, it would be a 
very profitable investment. After a residence of 
about three years at Communipaw the family re- 
moved to Rahway. 

Two miles out from Rahway, on the road to West- 
field, is located what is now known as the village ot 



14 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Picton, named in honor of Picton Scudder, one of the 
old-time residents of the place. The Scudder house 
has been standing over one hundred years and is still 
in excellent condition. It is now occupied by M. M. 
Scudder, a descendant of Picton Scudder. About 
a half mile from the Scudder homestead what was 
formerly known as the *'red schoolhouse" (Scudder's 
schoolhouse) is located, at the junction with the road 
to Cranford. Here the boys and girls of the neigh- 
borhood were given a rudimentary education in the 
days when the numerous children of the Graw fam- 
ily were more or less regular attendants. The ac- 
companying sketch will give a fair idea of the present 
appearance of the schoolhouse. Wm. H. Enders, in 
excellent health at the age of ^2, says he attended 
school with Jacob B. Graw when he was a boy, and 
that with some minor changes the building is the 
same as it was in 1838. Formerly there was an en- 
trance hall at the front, but this was thrown into the 
school room later to make additional space for 
pupils. The weatherboards have also been renewed, 
but the frame work, foundation and chimney are un- 
changed. It requires no stretch of imagination to 
assume that the covered wood box to the right of the 
door is as old as the foundation or any other part of 
the building, for it bears on its time-worn exterior 
the indubitable evidences of age and the carved init- 
ials of many an idle scholar. 

Scudder^s schoolhouse is now furnished with mod- 
ern desks and comfortable seats, but in the days 
when George Graw's children attended it, rude desks 
of the most primitive kind were in use, a plank sup- 
ported at either end furnishing unbacked seats for 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 15 

the pupils. A large picture of Washington now hangs 
back of the teacher's desk, while on the table reposes 
a big dinner bell which is used to call the children in 
from recess. Were the same picture and bell in 
service two-thirds of a century ago? 

After the lapse of over sixty years, Picton is still a 
small village, almost too small to definitely locate. 
The post-office is in the railroad station. There are 
a few residences scattered along the road, not more 
than two within a stone's throw. It is now, as it was 
in 1832, quiet, easy-going, restful. 

Into this little community George Graw brought 
his family, which was then composed of Elizabeth, 
born in 181 8; John, born in 1820; Louisa, born in 
1825, and Katie, born in 1830. Two had died in 
Germany and one at Communipaw. They were 
sturdy, healthy children, with the exception of Eliza- 
beth, whom it was feared would not live to woman- 
hood, and yet who has outlived all but one of the 
children, and at the ripe old age of 83 still enjoys life, 
awaiting in joyful anticipation the call that will re- 
unite a long separated family. 

A farm was bought near Scudder's Schoolhouse, 
and here began a Hfe of toil not unmixed with rural 
pleasures. George Graw was a cooper by trade and 
combined this business with the calling of a farmer. 
A lard keg made by him in 1834 for Mrs. Margaret 
Scudder, of Westfield, is still in existence and in her 
possession. Miss Sarah Ludlow, for many years a 
resident of Picton, remembers the incident very well 
and is authority for the facts above stated. There 
are a number of old families in the neighborhood — 
the Scudders, the Enders, the Corneliuses, the Bull- 



i6 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

mans, the Moores, the Winans and others. Some 
of the older members remain at advanced ages. Mrs. 
Bullman is 85; Mr. Moore about 90; Mrs. Erastus 
Woodruff, about 80. Mrs. Woodruff attended school 
at Scudders when Jacob B. Graw was a scholar and 
remembers him distinctly. 

The farm was well located, the house occupying 
a gentle eminence that gave a fine view of the sur- 
rounding country. It was, unfortunately, burned in 
1859 or i860, and now there is nothing to locate the 
spot except an abandoned well in front of where the 
house formerly stood. German thrift and industry 
were given play and the farm rapidly improved 
in value. The grape vines brought from the old 
country were planted and soon came into profitable 
bearing. Much land was cleared of trees and stones, 
and at the time of George Graw's death, in 1836, the 
farm, which comprised 30 acres, was considered one 
of the most valuable in the neighborhood, for its size. 

In the fall of 1832 (October 24) there was an addi- 
tion to the family of George and Louisa Graw, and 
there was much rejoicing because "it was a boy.'*" 
There were then three daughters and the elder 
brother, John. Young Jacob, born October 24,. 
1832, was baptized Jacob Brumbacher Graw, but the 
spirit of independence that characterized him all 
through life manifested itself in the changing of the 
Christian name from Jacob Brumbacher to Jacob 
Bentley. Whether this change met with the approv- 
al of parents or pastor is not a matter of record, or 
indeed of any particular consequence, except as it in- 
dicates the early manifestation of a distinguishing^ 
trait of character. That young Jacob's father had a. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 17 

great fancy for the name Jacob is inferentially evi- 
denced by his own name, and positively by the names 
of his eldest son (John Jacob) and the second son 
(Jacob) who died in 1831, and the third son (Jacob B.) 
But it is nowhere in evidence that the junior Jacob 
was at all favorably impressed with his Christian 
name, either in youth, manhood or old age. 

The lad Jacob followed the life of most farmers' 
boys. He knew what it was to "do chores" at early 
and late hours in the day. He attended school at 
"Scudder's" and was given tuition suited to his 
tender years. When he was a little fellow of about 
seven he and his younger brother often held "tem- 
perance meetings" together. At that time drinking, 
especially of hard cider, was a very common thing, 
and among the neighbors were some who had become 
drunkards. Meetings in the interest of temperance 
were occasionally held in Scudder's Schoolhouse and 
here he received instruction that shaped his en- 
tire life in the direction of total abstinence and prohi- 
bition. All the influences of the home were in the 
same direction, and this served to intensify his con- 
victions. This brother, Joseph Henry, was two years 
younger than Jacob, and died in boyhood. 

On Sunday evening, December 11, 1836, while 
Elizabeth was attending church at Rahway, a mes- 
senger came in hurriedly to announce to the grief- 
stricken girl the sudden death of her father. George 
Graw was an energetic worker; had overtaxed his 
strength laboring in the field, and sickness came upon 
him. It was not thought to be serious at first, but a 
change came quickly and with fatal result. 

Death is a dreaded and unbidden guest at most 



i8 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

times, but especially so when the father is cut off in 
his prime, leaving the mother with a large family to 
support and educate. Jacob was only four years old 
at the time of his father's death, and the responsi- 
bility rested heavily on John, who was then in his 
sixteenth year and who manfully and uncomplain- 
ingly bore his burden. 

The funeral services were held in the Methodist 
church at Rahway, the sermon being preached by 
Rev. John Buckley, father of Dr. James M. Buckley, 
editor of the Christian Advocate. What attaches 
pathetic interest to the incident is the fact that the 
preacher. Rev. John Buckley, was in a comparatively 
short time to pass away before even reaching the age 
of the man whose remains reposed in the cofBn before 
him that day. Rev. John Buckley died June 28, 
1842, in his 37th year. 

During the summer of 1841, mission work was 
started among the Germans of New York City. 
Jacob's sister, Louisa, went on a visit to her sister 
Elizabeth, who was married, and living there. She 
attended while there the old Second Street Church, 
of which Rev. Nathan Bangs was then the pastor. 
One Sabbath morning Dr. Bangs announced that on 
the Sunday following a German Sunday school would 
be started and German Methodist mission work be 
begun. He invited all who were interested in such 
work to go there and help. Louisa went, there were 
a few children present; she was the first lady there, 
and a class of girls was given her, so that she was the 
first lady teacher in the German Sunday schools east 
of the Alleghenies. Elizabeth joined later when the 
German society was organized. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 19 

When Louisa went home to Rahway and told her 
mother the good news she soon went to New York 
for a visit, staying over Sunday. She was delighted 
with the preaching and classmeetings, which were 
held in a private house. She had found what she 
had long wished for — preaching and classmeeting in 
German which she understood much better than the 
English. She began to think and plan in order to 
arrange that she could move to New York to enjoy 
these privileges. 

In the spring of 1842 she sold off her farm and 
stock at auction at great financial loss, and went to 
New York, living on Brown street, and then moving 
to Second street. After staying there about three 
years her heart went out for the Germans living in 
Rahway and other towns of Northern New Jersey, 
and it was in response to her solicitations that the 
local preachers first went to Rahway accompanied by 
John to introduce them. A few months later she 
moved to the village of Rahway simply for the pur- 
pose of aiding in this work. A preacher, Rev. John 
Sauter, was soon sent, who took up work in Rahway, 
Elizabethtown and Newark. 

The Germans of Rahway being unresponsive, while 
in Newark better success attended their efforts, the 
minister soon located there, and in the following 
spring the Graw family moved to Rahway, thus being 
really the first to introduce German Methodism in 
New Jersey. A two-story frame house on Canal 
street, between Mulberry street and the railroad, 
was rented. There were many Germans in Newark 
then and a German Methodist Mission which the 
family attended and in which Jacob B. Graw was 



20 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

converted in 1847 under the ministry of Rev. John 
Sauter. Mrs. EHzabeth Markhart, nee Ellenberger, 
now living at ^8 Columbia street, Newark, attended 
the Fourth Street PubHc School, New York, with 
Jacob B. Graw while the family lived in that city. 
After the EUenbergers moved to Newark, in 1848, 
Mrs. Markhart had the daughter, Louisa Graw, for 
her Sabbath school teacher. The Graws and EUen- 
bergers had attended Old Second Street German 
Methodist Church (the mother church) in New York 
and were well acquainted before moving to Newark. 
Mrs. Louisa Graw often led in prayer in public, and 
among her old acquaintances are many who have a 
distinct recollection of her gifts in this respect. 

Young Jacob entered the office of Wm. Wright at 
Center and Front streets and learned the harness 
maker's trade, working at it until about nineteen 
years of age. Rev. Charles W. A. Romer, a local 
preacher in the German church, was one of his par- 
ticular friends. When Mr. Romer was married in 
185 1 Jacob and his sister Katie (Mrs. Arndt) were 
witnesses of the ceremony and their signatures may 
be found on Mr. Romer's marriage certificate. 

Jacob remained a member of the German Metho- 
dist Church until 1852, when he withdrew and united 
with the Franklin Street M. E. Church of which Rev. 
W. P. Corbett was pastor. He was Hcensed as an 
exhorter in 1853, by Mr. Corbett, and in 1854 Rev. 
Thomas McCarroll, presiding elder of the Newark 
District, gave him license to preach. His schooling 
at the Bloomfield and Burr Seminaries had been sup- 
plemented by special studies and he therefore entered 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 21 

on his work with all the qualifications necessary for 
success. 

Franklin Street Church had 394 members and 15 
probationers in 1853 and was exceeded in size by 
only one church (Halsey Street) in the city. Out 
of this large and active church the young pastor went 
to his first charge, whose membership was only 61. 



22 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER II. 

BEGINNING OF HIS MINISTRY-CHATHAM, 1854. 

♦|r N the year 1854 J. B. Graw was given his first 
II charge, under Thomas McCarroll, Presiding 
Elder of Newark District. He was sent to 
Chatham. There were then seven districts in the 
New Jersey Conference, which embraced the whole 
state at that time : Newark, Paterson, Newton, Rah- 
way, Trenton, Burlington and Bridgeton Districts. 
In these seven districts there were reported 5515 con- 
versions at the Conference session of 1854. The 
Conference then had 31,816 white and 390 colored 
members. 

Bishop Waugh presided at this session of the Con- 
ference, which was held in New Brunswick beginning 
April 12, 1854. Of all the committees named that 
year only three members of the present New Jersey 
Conference are living, viz : George Hughes, who was 
on the Committee on Temperance; A. E. Ballard, 
who was on the Sunday School Committee, and 
Henry M. Brown, who was on a committee "To col- 
lect the names of Post Offices." The class of the 
second year was composed of John H. Vincent (af- 
terwards elected to the ofiice of bishop), Peter Y. 
Calder, who recently died at Palmyra, N. J., Thomas 
O'Hanlon, who in later years assumed the presidency 
of Pennington Seminary and made an enviable record 
as a Christian educator, William Franklin and Charles 
W. Heisley, who are still living, and William Walton, 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 23 

who became identified with Pitman Grove in after 
years. Rev. Wm. C. Stockton, the beloved Con- 
ference evangelist, was admitted into full connection 
this year. John S. Heisler was ordained deacon in 
1853; Philip Cline, Edwin Waters and Thomas S. 
Wilson were ordained elders in 1854. Among the 
supernumerary preachers were Henry Boehm, the 
senior member of the Conference, who was 100 years 
old at the time of his death, and Socrates Townsend, 
one of the sweetest-spirited men the world has ever 
known. 

Rev. Wm. C. Nelson had been pastor of the Chat- 
ham Church in 1853. His report for the year gave 
61 white members, 8 probationers, $9.08 collected for 
missions, $4.25 for Bible cause, $1.29 for education, 
$1.82 for Sunday School Union, 89 cents for tract 
cause. There were 6 officers and teachers, and 24 
scholars in the Sunday school and 1 50 volumes in the 
library. 

Chatham is one of the oldest settlements in New 
Jersey. It is a well-authenticated fact that Gen. 
Washington made his headquarters for a brief period 
in one of the dwelling houses on the main street of 
Chatham in 1780 or thereabouts. Methodism is said 
to have had its beginning, locally, in 1786. "In 1786 
Rev. Ezekiel Cooper made a visit of two weeks to 
New Jersey. During this visit he preached at Chat- 
ham, where a Presbyterian minister demanded his 
authority for preaching; at Mr. Clark's and Col. 
Grain's, where some expected him to be arrested." — 
Light on Early Methodism. 

Rev. James M. Tuttle is authority for the state- 
ment that Chatham was connected with the Eliza- 



24 



LIFE AND TIMES OF 



bethtown circuit, organized in 1787, with Robert 
Cloud and Thomas Merrill as pastors. There were 
then 240 members on the circuit. In all New Jersey 
there were only 11 preachers and 1634 members in 
1787. This circuit embraced Staten Island, Middle- 
sex, Essex, Bergen and Morris counties in 1794. 
Chatham Methodism is said to antedate Newark 
Methodism. Old Halsey Street Church, Newark, 
was built in 1808, while the Chatham Church is 
known to have been in existence at least six years 
previous to that date. 




CHATHAM AS IT APPEARED IN 1840. 

(taken from an old PBINT) 

The small building to the right, marked with *, is the Methodist Church of which 
J. B. Graw was pastor in 1854, and in which he preached his first sermon. 



In 1857 Rev. A. E. Ballard, in an article published 
in the Christian Advocate, asserted Isaac Searles was 
the founder of Methodism in Chatham. Whether 
this be true or not, there is no question that Searles 
was a pioneer worker whose record is a proud legacy 
to his descendants. Bishops Asbury and McKen- 
dree, Father Neale and the eccentric Lorenzo Dow 
were often guests at his home. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 25 

The church in which J. B. Graw preached in 1854 
was finished and dedicated in 1833, and cost $1,300. 
The accompanying engraving shows the appearance 
of the church in 1840, which is substantially the same 
as it was in 1854, with the exception that six feet 
were added to the front in 1852. In 1870, while Rev. 
J. E. Lake was pastor, the church was improved at a 
cost of $1,058. The old building being pronounced 
unsafe in 1896, steps were taken to build a new 
church, and on March 19, 1899, the present fine edi- 
fice was dedicated. The old church has since been 
demolished, the materials being used in the con- 
struction of new dwellings in course of erection. 

In 1854 unmarried preachers remained but one 
year at their appointments, and it would seem to be a 
difficult thing for a young student just beginning his 
ministry to make an impression that would be deep 
enough to remain for nearly a half century. But this 
the young preacher did, exhibiting even in those 
early times traits that marked his individuality. His 
discourses were carefully prepared, and through the 
kindness of Eliza J. Phipps we are enabled to pro- 
duce a very full outline of a sermon delivered by him 
January 28, 1855. Miss Phipps had kept a record 
of all the sermons preached by J. B. Graw, giving the 
dates and texts. On this particular Sunday she took 
the sermon down in long hand and then afterward 
compared notes with David Price, and the following 
summary is the result of their joint efforts : 

A SERMON PREACHED OS HIS FIRST CHARGE. 

Extracts of a sermon preached by Rev. J. B. Graw, 
Sunday, January 28, 1855: 



26 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Jeremiah 6:i6: "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in 
the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is 
the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest 
for your souls." In reading the history of the Jews 
we find two remarkable features. First, the good- 
ness of God towards them, and their base ingratitude 
in return. At the time the prophet Jeremiah wrote 
the words of the text, we find they had become as 
great idolators as any heathen nation. During their 
captivity under the Babylonians, under that severe 
trial and punishment, they learned the fallacy of idol- 
atry, and we have no account of their worshipping 
idols since that time, although they sinned and re- 
belled against Him many times. Though the children 
of Israel were visited with afflictions and judgments, 
yet God meant it for their good. Some may say, 
Had I lived in the days of Jeremiah, when God mani- 
fested His presence in a peculiar manner towards 
them in the days of miracles, I should have been a 
better Christian. But others may say, Had the chil- 
dren of Israel lived in the days of Gospel light, they 
would have been very different. ''Thus saith the 
Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the 
old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein." 

There are four points on this passage of scripture : 
(i) Faith; (2) Charity or love; (3) Duty enjoined, and 
lastly (4) the blessings flowing from it. 

(i) What is faith? Faith in its largest sense is 
living faith, active faith, Christian faith. Faith in its 
contracted sense is taking God at His word. Abram 
believed in God and it was counted for righteousness ; 
by faith Moses forsook the land of Egypt, though 
harrassed by enemies on every side, "esteeming 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 27 

the reproach of Christ greater treasures than the 
riches of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recom- 
pense of reward." By faith Abram when he was 
tried, offered up his son Isaac, having an eye to- 
wards the land of promise. Observe the examples of 
faith in the gospel, and the Old Testament worthies. 
By faith David served God. By faith Solomon 
obeyed the Lord and built an house unto His honor. 
By faith the apostles endured difficulties and perse- 
cutions. Had they not exercised living faith they 
could not have endured their burdens. It was living 
faith that led them to give up their lives and seal their 
profession with their blood. They continued in the 
way marked out for them by Christ. Be not faithless, 
but believing. The way of faith is so plain that a 
wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein. 
Christ says "Deny thyself, take up thy cross and fol- 
low me. Whoever will not do this cannot be my dis- 
ciple.'* If we expect to gain an admittance into the 
mansions of bliss, we must deny ourselves, take up 
our cross and follow our Master through evil as well 
as good report. We must bear the cross in order to 
receive the crown. Was it not self-denial in Christ 
to leave the throne eternal, the society of angels, 
and the spirits of just men made perfect, to come to 
earth to be reduced to poverty which led him to ex- 
claim, "The foxes have holes, the birds of the air have 
nests, but the son of man hath not where to lay his 
head;" to be subject to the cruel mockings of wicked 
men, and to die the ignominious death of the cross, 
that guilty men might live? We often hear of the 
patience of Job, but we find as great examples in the 
New Testament as displayed by Job. Much patience 



28 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

is needed under the trying circumstances in which we 
may be placed to enable us to persevere unto the end. 

(2) God so loved the world as to give his only be- 
gotten son to die for us, that we might not perish, but 
have everlasting life. Christ so loved sinners as to 
offer His life a sacrifice for them, He who did no sin. 
The Christian should hate the sin, but love the sin- 
ner, and show by their example and Hfe that they 
love their souls. 

(3) Duty enjoined — witness the life and holy zeal 
of the first missionaries and apostles, counting their 
lives not dear to them, so that they might win Christ 
and preach Him to a dying world. God has no idlers 
in His vineyard. He gives to each his talent to im- 
prove. Do we do all the good we can? Do we do 
all we can to promote God's honor and glory? Do 
we go to the sinner and tell him of his condition? Do 
we by precept and example show him that we love his 
soul? We read of the slothful servant who was con- 
demned. Not on account of his doing harm but be- 
cause he did no good. ''Thus saith the Lord, stand 
ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths," 
even as a traveler journeying to a far country would 
need a guide to direct him in the right way. Man by 
nature is alienated from God. Although the sinner 
may have repentance in an abstract sense, yet he does 
not understand fully what repentance is. Repent- 
ance is a true sorrow for sin, giving up sin, and living 
a life of faith. Ministers are the instrument in the 
hands of God, to point out the true way which leads 
to everlasting life. 

(4) We notice the rest promised to the faithful. 
"There remaineth a rest for the people of God." It 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 29 

is a world of purity, for no sin can enter the pearly 
gates of the celestial city, the New Jerusalem. A 
rest from sin, from the power and bondage of sin. A 
rest from care and toil, an everlasting rest. The rest 
here described is a spiritual rest. Christ says, ''Come 
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I 
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and 
learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart ; and 
ye shall find rest unto your souls." We cannot ade- 
quately express, we can only give a faint picture, of 
the saint's rest, of the glory and happiness enjoyed 
by the heavenly host above, where sickness and sor- 
row, pain and death, are felt and feared no more ; 
where they can view their Savior face to face, 
and forever sing the anthems of redeeming love. 
Christ says, 'Tn my father's house are many mansions. 
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and 
prepare a place for you, I will come again and re- 
ceive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may 
be also." There are mansions in heaven for the faithful 
followers of Christ. Is there one here who is seeking 
the salvation of his soul? View the example of the 
prodigal son when he said, 'T will arise and go to my 
father, and say, I have sinned against heaven and in 
thy sight, and am unworthy to be called thy son." Is 
this the language of the penitent? Are we as Chris- 
tians striving to obtain the promised rest? Unless 
we are cleansed from sin, we cannot be made par- 
takers of the inheritance of the saints in glory, where 
they are eternally employed in giving ascriptions ot 
praise to God which sitteth upon the throne, and 
unto the Lamb. "For the Lamb which is in the 
midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead 



30 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall 

wipe away all tears from their eyes." 

May God help us all to walk in the way, the good 

old way, and at last bring us to inherit the promised 

rest. 

* * * 

Part of the year the young pastor boarded at Mah- 
lon Minton's; then afterwards he moved to "The 
land of Israel" (as Israel Dickerson's home was 
called.) 

One characteristic story is told which will amuse 
many who were intimately acquainted with Dr. Graw. 
One good old brother got up in classmeeting and be- 
gan a rambling discourse that was as long as it was 
irrelevant. The young pastor waited for awhile and 
then broke in with: 'That's all very interesting, 
brother, but give us your experience." 

At another time while delivering a temperance lec- 
ture he said, referring to a near-by town that was 
cursed with many saloons, that "when the man in the 
moon went over that place he always held his nose." 

The first sermon preached by J. B. Graw in the first 
charge he served, under the presiding elder, was de- 
livered April 23, 1854, from the text, II Kings, 5:12, 
"Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, 
better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash 
in them and be clean? So he turned and went away 
in a rage." 

Revival services were begun Sunday, October i, 
the pastor preaching morning and evening. He also 
preached on the 2d, 4th and 5th, and on the 6th Rev. 
W. C. Nelson, the preceding pastor, filled the pulpit. 
About the middle of October he was taken down with 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 31 

typhoid fever, and did not resume pulpit work until 
December 17th. The last sermons as pastor of the 
charge were preached April i, 1855. The morning 
text was Psalms 1-3; evening text, Job 31 :i4. He 
returned and preached for his successor. Rev. Philip 
Roden, twice, on Sunday, June 17, 1855. 

There are quite a number now living who were 
connected with the church in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. 
Nelson Kelley, "Uncle" Harvey Bond (aged 83), 
EHza J. Phipps and a few others still remain, but most 
of the former workers are gone. These are among 
the number who were active then, but most of whom 
have since passed away: Rev. Henry Hedges, local 
preacher; Nathaniel Swain, trustee and steward; J. 
W. Hawley and Mr. Kent, class leaders ; Vincent B. 
Budd, David Price, Charley White (the only colored 
member of the flock), Henry Tester, Mary and Susan 
Tester, Mrs. Susan Wonderly, mother of Mrs. Nel- 
son Kelley, Mrs. Philemon Dickinson, Harvey Kel- 
ley, Caroline Dickerson, Letitia Brown and Caleb 
Brown. 

The record for this, the first year of his ministry, 
was quite encouraging. The membership was re- 
ported as 61 white, i colored, 9 probationers, $20 for 
missions, $2 for Sunday School Union, $2 for tract 
cause; 7 officers and teachers, 40 scholars, and 340 
volumes were reported in the Sunday school. A 
severe spell of sickness from typhoid fever interfered 
somewhat with his work. The salary wasn't heavy 
even for those early days. His "allowance" was $100 
but the receipts were $125. Small salaries were then 
the rule. Dr. Stokes was at Morristown and was 
getting $600 ; George Hughes at Bellville, salary es- 



32 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

timate, $500 (receipts $435.28) ; John H. Vincent was 
at North Bellville, practicing economy on a salary of 
$262; Henry M. Brown was at Lower Rahway, and 
his salary was $400; Dr. Heisler got $275 at Prince- 
ton; Dr. O'Hanlon only received $260.75 at Eaton- 
town ; C. E. Hill was in receipt of a salary of $600 at 
Pitman Church, New Brmiswick; Dr. Ballard was a^ 
Broad Street, Burlington, and got $600. Greene 
Street, Trenton, paid $700 in 1854; Third Street, 
Camden, $750. These were then the highest salaried 
churches in what is now the New Jersey Conference. 
J. B. Graw was admitted on trial at the nineteenth 
session of the Conference, which was held in Central 
Church, Newark, April 11, 1855, Bishop Edmund S. 
Janes presiding. The members of the class were as 
follows, in the order published in the Conference 
Minutes: J. B. Graw, Albert H. Brown, Samuel W. 
Wood, James Lawton, Geo. B. Day, Horace S. Bish- 
op, Joseph G. Crate, Richard H. Wiggins, Jeremiah 
Cowins, Wm. H. Dickerson, Wm. H. McCormick. 
Only one pf the class (so it is understood) survives : 
Rev. Wm. H. McCormick, of the Newark Confer- 
ence, a life-long friend and co-laborer with Dr. Graw 
in the temperance cause. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 33 



CHAPTER III. 

STATEN ISLAND-1855-56. 

fT was the rule years ago for unmarried preach- 
ers to remain but one year at their appoint- 
ments, and so the young pastor was moved, 
Staten Island being his second appointment. It will 
add interest to the book to preface the record of J. B. 
Graw's pastorate at Stapleton by a brief historical 
sketch of Staten Island Methodism. Rev. Henry 
Boehm, who was connected at one time with Old 
John Street Church, New York, held the first Meth- 
odist meetings at Stapleton in the spring of 1835, in 
the home of Mrs. White. On the 12th and 19th of 
July, 1835, Mr. Boehm gave notice of steps to form 
a church. Articles of incorporation were filed in the 
county clerk's office at Richmond July 22, 1835. The 
Board of Trustees organized by electing Lawrence 
Hillyer president; Henry Cole, secretary, and An- 
drew C. Wheeler, treasurer. Four lots on Cebra 
avenue, forming a plot 100 feet square, were given 
the church by Caleb T. Ward. The officers of the 
Board of Trustees were appointed a committee ''to 
apply to the legislature for the money — $1,000 — ap- 
propriated for the building of the church." They had 
the ground and $1,000 in cash from the state, and 
bids were then asked for construction, the contract 
going to John H. Quilthot for $1166. The corner- 
stone was laid July i, 1837, and the church dedicated 
September, 1838. The congregation outgrew the 



34 



LIFE AND TIMES OF 



first church in a Uttle while and a larger building was 
needed. An effort was made in 1853 to begin work 
on the new church, but obstacles of one kind or an- 
other prevented action at the time. In 1855 J. B. 
Graw became pastor of the church, and his energy 
and enterprise soon found a way out of the difficulties. 
The Building Committee was composed of Rev. J. B. 




(Taken from a Church Certificate issued in 1863.) 

OLD JOHN ST, CHURCH, NEW TOEK, OLDEST METHODIST 
CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Graw and Messrs. Cisco, AVillis, Morgan, Simpson 
and Kempton. Plans were adopted May 21, 1855, the 
cornerstone w^as laid in June, and the church dedi- 
cated in December of the same year. The name of 
the church was changed to Stapleton M. E. Church 
in 1853, and in 1857 was again changed to Cebra 
Avenue M. E. Church. It is now known as Kingsley 
M, E. Church. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 35 

The new pastor began work promptly. On April 
30, 1855, a joint meeting of the two boards was held 
and it was decided to organize as an official board. 
"It was unanimously resolved that we pay our min- 
ister $60 for the Conference year, besides a donatfon 
visit and the $90 allowed by Conference." It was 
also decided to have the new church built on the site 
of the old one. On May 11 the official board "Re- 
solved, That the report of our pastor, Bra. Graw, re- 
specting our new church, be received and adopted." 
The pastor was made chairman of a visiting commit- 
tee to inspect the church at Woodrow, "as a model." 
May 21 it was "Resolved, That the plan presented by 
Bro. Graw for our new church be accepted and acted 
upon." 

While the new church was being built Lyceum 
Hall was hired for church purposes of Capt. Gilles- 
pie, he agreeing "To rent for $100 a year and furnish 
lights and attendance." Surely this is a small sum 
to pay for the purchase of a congregation for an en- 
tire year — only $100! What the captain really in- 
tended to furnish were the attendants, which is quite 
a different matter. 

On May 13, 1856, "Bro. Graw was requested to 
draw up a code of by-laws for the guidance of the 
board." October 2J, 1856, "A vote of thanks was 
given Orange Church, N. J., for permitting the pas- 
tor, J. B. Graw, to occupy the pulpit and take a col- 
lection for the benefit of the local church." 

When the pastor had been in charge six months he 
went to board with Mrs. Eliza J. Morgan, and for a 
year and six months made his home with her. Mrs. 
Morgan, who is now in her 91st year, has no difficul- 



36 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ty in remembering the youthful pastor who began his 
career as a member of the Conference while at Staple- 
ton. "Mother" Morgan bears her years with such 
ease and grace it is difficult to imagine her as being 
much above sixty. Mrs. Morgan, her daughter, Hes- 
ter J. Morgan, and Mrs. Sophia P. White are the only 
members of the church now living at Stapleton who 
were connected with it when J. B. Graw was pastor. 

By reference to the engraving of Kingsley Church 
it will be observed the upper half of the church rests 
on a one-story foundation. The upper portion of the 
church was built by Dr. Graw in 1855. In 1870, while 
Rev. Henry Spellmeyer was pastor, the church was 
raised and the basement built thereunder, and the 
entire building lengthened twenty feet. 

In 1887 the church celebrated its fiftieth anniver- 
sary with a jubilee, and Dr. Graw came back to his 
old charge and preached to the people he had served 
so many years before. 

It was while living at Stapleton he met the young 
lady who was subsequently to become his wife. Capt. 
James Stillwell, of Stapleton, kept a fleet of pleasure 
yachts and row boats for the accommodation of ex- 
cursionists from New York and Brooklyn. He had 
a family composed of eight daughters and two sons, 
and it was one of these daughters for whom the 
young Methodist preacher early manifested a prefer- 
ence. Capt. Stillwell's family were communicants of 
the Episcopal church, and attended the services of 
that denomination, but one of the daughters mar- 
ried into a family of Methodists and this resulted in 
her frequently taking her sister with her to the serv- 
ices in the Methodist church. An introduction to 



38 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the young preacher followed. Then, as now, young, 
unmarried pastors were regarded with favor by both 
parents and daughters. 

The conference of 1856 was presided over by Bish- 
op Matthew Simpson. This was Bishop Simpson's 
first official visit, he having been consecrated in 1852. 
As the bishop was born in 1 811, he was only 41 years 
old when elected to his high ofhce. Of all the bish- 
ops who have visited the New Jersey Conference 
none have been held in higher esteem by preachers 
and people. He was especially interested in Dr. 
Graw and early manifested the keenest interest in his 
progress. This friendship continued unbroken until 
the day of his death, June 18, 1884. Isaac W. Wiley 
and John H. Vincent served on important commit- 
tees at this session of the conference. Both of these 
men subsequently became bishops. It looks very 
familiar, indeed, to see Dr. A. E. Ballard's name 
among the Committee on Memoirs. Early and con- 
tinuous practice along this Hne explains his present 
proficiency in this respect. 

Success had attended the young pastor's efforts on 
spiritual lines; the first year 19 probationers were re- 
ported. The membership at the beginning of the 
y^ear was only 74. There was also a gratifying in- 
crease in salary, which no doubt was badly needed. 
The stewards estimated the salary at $432, but the re- 
ceipts were $475, which is a pretty sure indication 
that the officials were pleased with their pastor. It 
is interesting to note the salaries paid ministers in 
those early years. In 1855 Dr. Whitecar was at Trin- 
ity Church, Jersey City, which paid a salary of $1000. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 39 

No Methodist Church in the state paid a higher sal- 
ary than that in 1855, and few equaled it. 

The second year's report from Stapleton was still 
more encouraging, for there were 25 probationers 
and the membership had grown to 95. Bishop Scott 
presided at this session of the Conference and re- 
ceived J. B. Graw into full connection and ordained 
him. This occurred in Greene Street Church, Tren- 
ton (afterwards First Church), of which he became 
pastor in 1896. 

The appreciation of the church at Stapleton the 
second year was shown by the fact that the pastor 
got $500 in salary, which was $90 in excess of the 
estimate. In 1857 the Conference Minutes for the 
first time, give estimates of the value of church prop- 
erty. The Stapleton church was valued at $7000, 
Broad Street Church, Newark, cost $70,000, and this 
was then the most expensive Methodist church in 
New Jersey. In those early days it was no uncom- 
mon thing for the parsonage to cost more than the 
church, which showed clearly the preachers were in- 
terested in mansions on earth as well as those in the 
skies. Orange had a $3000 parsonage and a $6000 
church. Mariner's Harbor had a $1500 church and 
a $2800 parsonage. Port Jervis had a $1500 church 
and a $1600 parsonage. Perth Amboy's church cost 
$1500 and the parsonage $2500. Liberty Street 
(First Church), New Brunswick, made an even di- 
vision between the Lord and the pastor, the church 
and parsonage each being valued at $4000. There 
were 361 churches in the state valued at $1,051,900. 
In 1900 the churches on Camden District alone were 
valued at $1,045,080. 



40 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER IV. 

FREEHOLD— 1857-1858. 

^^^ HE Minutes of 1857 contain the appointments 
^L, for both the Newark and the New Jersey 
Conferences, the division occurring this year. 
J. B. Graw was sent to Freehold and was succeeded at 
Stapleton by Rev. Dayton F. Reed. Rev. A. K. 
Street was his first presiding elder after the Confer- 
ences were divided, and a more genial, kindly elder 
would have been hard to find anywhere. There were 
then only three districts in the New Jersey Confer- 
ence: Trenton District, A. K. Street, presiding elder; 
Burlington District, G. F. Brown, presiding elder; 
Bridgeton District, S. Y. Monroe, presiding elder. 
In the Hst of appointments was that of Thompson H. 
Landon to be "Teacher at Pennington Seminary." 
Prof. Landon is now at the head of the Bordentown 
Military Institute, one of the most prosperous edu- 
cational institutions in the state. 

Freehold had 114 members and 15 probationers 
in 1856, the year before Dr. Graw was sent 
there. The local church was valued at $3000. D. L. 
Adams, the preceding pastor, had received a. salary 
of $322. In the middle of April, 1857, Dr. Graw left 
Staten Island and went to his new appointment, 
Freehold. There was no parsonage, and so the min- 
ister boarded. December 29, 1857, Jacob B. Graw 
and Isabella Stillwell were united in marriage at Clif- 
ton, Staten Island, by Rev. Dayton F. Reed. The 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 41 

ceremony was to have been performed by Rev. A. K. 
Street, who was Dr. Graw's presiding elder, but an 
unforseen emergency prevented, and so the local pas- 
tor was engaged. The young couple went on their 
wedding trip to Liberty, Sullivan county, New York, 
where the brother, Rev. John J. Graw, was stationed. 
After a brief tour the pastor returned to his charge at 
Freehold, accompanied by his bride, and boarded for 
awhile with Ralph Hulse. Not many of the friends 
of those by-gone days remain. Among others whom 
the pastor and his wife had cause to remember with 
pleasure were Sheriff Samuel Conover, whose wife 
always made sure that when the homesick bride re- 
turned from a visit to Staten Island she should find 
a table laden with chicken, fresh bread and other 
appetizing dainties; Major Yard and wife, Mr. and 
Mrs. John G. Cooper, L. S. Hyer, A. C. Hart, who 
was then employed in the Monmouth Democrat of- 
fice, but who subsequently engaged in the newspaper 
business for himself at Atlantic Highlands; Alfred 
Waters, Judge Joseph Murphy, father of Holmes W. 
Murphy, recently deceased, and George H. Biles, for 
many years sexton of the Methodist church and one 
of its leading members, and whose widow is still liv- 
ing. Lewis S. Hyer was a compositor in Major 
Yard's ofifice while Dr. Graw was at Freehold, was 
converted under his ministry and received into the 
local church. In 1865 Mr. Hyer moved to Rahway 
and has since been identified with Trinity M. E. 
Church, serving as president of the board of trustees 
and leader of the church choir for many years. In 
business and politics he has been equally successful, 
having served as mayor of the city, judge of the Court 



42 LIFE AND TIMES OF , 

of Common Pleas and held other offices too numer- 
ous to mention, besides conducting his newspaper, 
the Rahway Democrat. Probably no convert brought 
into the Methodist fold by Dr. Graw has had a more 
active and honorable career, and been more energetic 
in church work. Mr. Hyer had the warmest friend- 
ship for Dr. Graw up to the day of his death, a feel- 
ing which was reciprocated by the pastor, who was, 
under the Holy Spirit's influence, instrumental in his 
conversion so' many years ago. 

It will not do to relate here all the woes of the 
young housekeeper, but one incident is too good to 
suppress. In those early days refrigerators were 
very seldom used, and all kinds of expedients were 
resorted to in order to keep meats, milk and vegeta- 
bles from spoiling during the summer time. One 
Sunday morning after church, Virginia, (Mrs. Graw's 
sister) was commissioned to draw up the meat 
from the well, where it had been lowered to keep 
cool. Imagine the consternation of Virginia and her 
sister, when, while incautiously drawing up the prize, 
the bucket tipped and upset the Sunday dinner into 
the depths of the well. There was no meat for din- 
ner that Sunday. 

It is related of the pastor that he made it a prac- 
tice Monday mornings to go through the foundry and 
talk with the men, urging them to come to church, 
and many were thus induced to attend the Methodist 
services. 

The quarterly meeting occasions were enjoyed by 
both pastor and presiding elder and many were the 
long talks after meeting was over and the two con- 
genial spirits had repaired to the parsonage for social 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 43 

intercourse, which often ran into the "wee sma' hours 
of the morning." The young preacher just winning 
his spurs found a foeman worthy any man's steel in 
A. K. Street and it is to be presumed those midnight 
sessions were often the scene of keen but kindly re- 
partee, interspersed with anecdotes that lost little in 
the telling. 

The regular "donations," also were times of socia- 
bility and relaxation, even if the wear and tear on 
furniture, etc., materially reduced the "profits." 
Methodism has largely grown away from this old- 
time feature, but it is doubtful if any substitute of- 
fered has taken its place and filled it acceptably. 

J. B. Graw believed in revivals and was never so 
happy as when engaged in a sweeping work of grace. 
In 1857 there were 12 probationers; in 1858 there 
were 80. Ninety-two additions to the church were 
made the two years this charge was served. The sal- 
ary estimate in 1857 was $400; receipts, $490; in 1858 
estimate and receipts, $400. 

In 1857, while Dr. Graw was stationed at Freehold, 
Wm. W. Moffett, who then resided at Westfield, 
served as "collector" in securing subscriptions to the 
missionary fund in his native town. Although liv- 
ing in adjoining townships when both were boys, 
Dr. Moffett did not become acquainted with Dr. 
Graw until he joined the New Jersey Conference in 
1864. Their friendship was sincere and life-long. 

Bishop Baker presided at the twenty-second ses- 
sion of the New Jersey Conference, which was held 
in Third Street Church, Camden, beginning March 
31, 1858. There were then only 119 preachers in 
the Conference, the division having occurred which 



44 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

set off the Newark Conference, and a membership in 
all the churches of 20,457. Trenton only had three 
Methodist churches in 1858: Greene Street, J. B. 
Dobbins, pastor ; Front Street, George Hughes, pas- 
tor, and Union Street, J. K. Burr, pastor. Greene 
Street paid a salary of $800 ; Front Street, $700, and 
Union Street, $500. Bordentown, which was served 
by Dr. Whitecar in 1857, ranked with Greene Street, 
Trenton, in the salary paid. Greene Street reported 
546 members and 76 probationers in 1858; Borden- 
town, :^2y members and 56 probationers; Third 
Street, Camden, had 328 members; Fifth Street, ^iZJ^ 
while Broadway, which is now the largest society in 
the Conference, had only 188 then. The Confer- 
ence statistical recapitulation in 1858 gave these in- 
teresting and, in some respects, significant figures: 
Members, 20,457; probationers, 6254; 187 churches, 
valued at $503,540; yj parsonages valued at $66,625 ; 
missionary contributions, $5,311.37; 262 Sunday 
schools with 3661 ofificers and teachers and 19050 
scholars. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 45 



CHAPTER V. 

HADDONFIELD— 1859-1860. 

^^^ HE session of the Conference in 1859 was 
^L, held in Mount Holly and was presided over 
by Bishop E. R. Ames. At this session of 
the Conference J. B. Graw received his first appoint- 
ment on a committee — the Committee to Receive 
Bible Collections. He was also elected and or- 
dained elder this year, together with J. G. Crate, and 
was on the program to preach in the Presbyterian 
church on Thursday evening. The desire to attain 
an honorable place among his brethren was thus 
early manifested, and in later years brought him a 
well-deserved and hard-earned leadership. 

It was with genuine regret the pastor and his 
young wife left Freehold, where they had spent two 
happy years. Haddonfield was their next appoint- 
ment, and here, also, they stayed the full term of 
two years. The church at Haddonfield had recently 
been completed by the preceding pastor, Rev. S. E. 
Post, and it was then considered a large and well 
appointed structure. In fact only a few minor 
changes have been made since that early period, and 
the church, as it now stands, is practically the same as 
it was in 1859. 

Haddonfield Church had 156 members in 1858. In 
1859 the membership was reported as 144 with 4 pro- 
bationers; in i860, membership, 210; probationers, 
42. Six hundred dollars salary was paid both years. 



46 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

There had been a marked increase in the salaries paid 
the preachers in i860. Dr. S. Y. Monroe, at Third 
Street, Camden, received $1,000; Liberty Street, 
New Brunswick, paid $910; Pitman, New Brunswick, 
$850; Commerce Street, Bridgeton, $800; both of 
the Salem churches, $800. Dr. Geo. K. Morris, who 
was just beginning his ministry as junior preacher 
with Thomas S. Wilson on Jacobstown Circuit, re- 
ceived a salary of $100. He has since risen to an 
enviable position as pulpit orator and educator. 

Not many of the men and women who labored with 
Dr. Graw while he was pastor of the church at Had- 
donfield are now living. Thomas H. Williams and 
wife, who were warm friends of the pastor, are still 
living, having exceeded the scriptural age limit of 
three score and ten, but are still enjoying life. Mr. 
Williams had a horse and carriage and often took Dr. 
Graw to out-of-town meetings during the first year 
of his pastorate. Glendale Mission was started by 
Dr. Graw in i860, and he was compelled then to keep 
a horse himself. Mr. Williams tells an amusing in- 
cident connected with the Glendale Mission, Avhich 
was typical of the man. Dr. Graw never had any 
patience with irreverent men and women who attend 
church simply to pass away the time, and often con- 
duct themselves in an improper manner. While he 
was preaching at a revival service one evening he 
was constantly annoyed by a burly young Dutchman 
who would rise to his feet and make remarks calcu- 
lated to disturb the solemnity of the occasion. Dr. 
Graw stood this for awhile, then suddenly went down 
the aisle and placing a hand on each shoulder forced 
the Dutchman into his seat, saying: "Now, if you 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 47 

can't stay there and behave yourself, why leave the 
room." And the Dutchman sat quiet for the rest 
of the service and gave the preacher no further trou- 
ble. 

Elijah Cattell and Alexander Cattell (afterwards 
United States senator), then lived at Haddonfield. 
They subsequently moved to Merchantville. Jehu 
Shivers and wife, of the Society of Friends, joined 
the local church while Dr. Graw was pastor. Among 
others who were active in church work then were 
Charles Lippincott and wife, Joseph Stafford, Sr., and 
wife, Joseph Stafford, Jr., and wife; Rev. Geo. A. 
Reybold, Colwell C. Baker, Mrs. George Watson, 
David Middleton and wife, S. K. Matlack, John Peak, 
Wm. C. Milligan, Clayton Brown, Samuel Tule and 
wife, John McNinney (Messrs. Tule and McNinney 
were class leaders) ; John Jeffreys, Clara and Hannah 
Stout, daughters of Rev. Joseph Stout, who is the 
father of Mrs. Dr. E. H. Stokes ; Mary Ann and Sarah 
Carmen (who were among the pioneer members of 
the church) ; Mrs. Anna Smith, sister of Charles Lip- 
pincott; Anna Reeves, Charles Clement and wife, 
Elmer and Joseph Clement, their sons; Wm. Gas- 
kill and wife, Isabella Haines, Asay Gaskill and wife, 
Wm. Mason (whose wife was a member of the Baptist 
church) ; James Gibbs and wife, Wm. H. Tomlinson 
and wife, Thomas Eldridge and wife, and Chalkley 
Tompkins and wife. 

One incident that was considered serious at the 
time, but which in after years was recalled with con- 
siderable amusement, was the establishment of a 
camp meeting on the pleasure grounds, under the 
auspices of Col. Jesse Peyton, who l?iter became 



48 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

known as "the father of centennials." One of the 
avowed objects of the camp meeting was the raising 
of funds for the local church. The affair, however, 
was a failure and resulted in a very unsatisfactory 
manner to most of the members of the church, in- 
cluding the pastor. 

Another event of a domestic nature may cause the 
uninitiated to smile, but will awaken a genuine thrill 
of commiserative pity in the heart of the minister or 
layman who has "been there." In an unguarded 
momient Dr. Graw, feeling himself competent to 
pass on the merits of feminine headgear, bought a 
lady's hat in a Philadelphia store and brought it 
home, with what results any seasoned husband can 
easily calculate. It was an offence the doctor never 
repeated. 




REV. J. B. GRAW, D. D. 

(Taken when 40 years of age.) 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 49 



CHAPTER VI. 

BRIDGETON— 1861 (Partof) 

'^'M« ' HE twenty-fifth session of the New Jersey 
^1 ^ Annual Conference was held in Borden- 
town, Bishop Simpson presiding. The ses- 
sion began March 27, 1861, and closed the follow- 
ing Tuesday at noon. The country was in a fefment 
of excitement over the critical condition of national 
affairs, for it was clearly manifest that war with the 
south was only a question of time. 

There was a change in Conference secretary this 
year, H. B. Beegle succeeding Dr. Lewis, who had 
held the ofhce for fourteen consecutive years. Wm. 
B. Osborne and George H. Neal were elected elders 
at this session of the Conference. Dr. G. F. Brown 
was presiding elder of Trenton District, George 
Hughes of the Burlington District, A. K. Street of 
the Camden District, and W. E. Perry of the Bridge- 
ton District. The ''report of the Book Committee 
stated that the Christian Advocate had a circulation 
of over 29,000 subscribers." A "series of resolu- 
tions were offered by George Hughes calling for a 
lucid statement of the affairs of Pennington Semi- 
nary. A desultory debate ensued," etc. This oc- 
curred on Thursday. The following Monday addi- 
tional resolutions and more debate followed, "it ap- 
pearing that the Seminary is in a condition of great 
financial embarrassment." In the afternoon the de- 
bate was resumed, and on motion of Dr. Brown, 



so LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Bishop Simpson was ''requested to give his views 
concerning the sale of Pennington Seminary." The 
bishop very properly urged the Conference to retain 
the Seminary and asserted that "if the Seminary 
should pass out of our hands it would be the last of 
Methodistic institutions in New Jersey." Bishop 
Ames spoke strongly along the same line. From the 
foregoing it may be seen that Pennington Seminary, 
like the nation, was passing through the stormiest 
period of its career in 1861. The present Confer- 
ence secretary, James H. Payran, was admitted on 
trial at this session of the Conference. John H. 
Hutchinson, A. J. Gregory, Wm. E. Greenbank and 
Henry Belting are the only members of his class who 
are now living. 

J. B. Graw was a member of the Committee on 
Minutes at this session of the Conference and was an 
examiner for the third year's course of study. 

Dr. Graw followed Dr. I. D. King as pastor of 
Trinity Church, Bridgeton, serving that church from 
March till the latter part of September, 1861, when 
he joined his regiment. The balance of the year was 
filled out by Robert J. Andrews. Mrs. Graw re- 
mained in Bridgeton until March, 1862, when she 
went to her father's home at Staten Island to stay un- 
til Dr. Graw returned from the army. 

When Dr. Graw arrived in Bridgeton with his fam- 
ily he was warmly welcomed by Enoch Hanthorn and 
wife, who freely opened their home to the weary 
travelers. The church had no parsonage then, but 
hired half of a double house for the use of the pastor''s 
family. When Dr. Graw was taken by Mr. Han- 
thorn to view his new home, he looked it over criti- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. Si 

cally, but said nothing, which caused his host to slyly 
insinuate in after years that the doctor's haste in leav- 
ing for the army was inspired by the desire to get 
away from an uncomfortable parsonage. In justice 
to Trinity Church it should be stated they now have 
one of the best parsonages on the District. Mr. 
Hanthorn's sense of humor was as keen as Dr. 
Graw's, and it was natural for them to find pleasure 
in each other's company. 

The war was now at hand ; Sumter had been fired 
on, and a contest was begun the magnitude of which 
but few had the faintest conceptions. It was believed 
the war would end quickly. Lincoln's first call was 
for 75,000 ^'ninety-days' men." It was thought three 
months' time would suffice to quell the "disturb- 
ance." Trinity's pastor was not long in his new 
charge before he made enemies of those who secretly 
favored the south. He was unceasing in his con- 
demnation of slavery and in his support of the Union. 
Patriotic sermons were frequently preached and 
"Old Glory" was displayed on every suitable oc- 
casion. As he condemned rum as strongly as he did 
rebellion he made enemies among the whiskey men 
as well as among southern sympathizers. These en- 
emies sought to blacken his character while Dr. Graw 
was serving as chaplain in the army, but his faithful 
friend, Enoch Hanthorn, kept him posted on their 
doings and their plans were completely frustrated. 
Slander and villification are the only arguments the 
rum men and the secessionists had to offer against 
the men who were courageous enough to fight them. 
Dr. Graw's vindication was complete and his enemies 
were overthrown. 



52 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

During the summer Mr. Hanthorn and Dr. Graw 
made a three days' trip to Washington to visit Major 
Yard's regiment of ninety-day volunteers who were 
in camp near the city. After spending some time 
with his former parishioner, Dr. Graw and his com- 
panion left the camp and went to Washington, where 
they attended a reception at the White House, and 
enjoyed the pleasure of an introduction to, and con- 
versation with. President Lincoln. 

There are few members of Trinity Church now liv- 
ing who had Dr. Graw as their pastor in 1861. James 
M. Riley and wife (Mrs. Enoch Hanthorn's parents), 
Wm. Rice, Sr., Daniel Hanthorn, E. E. Johnson and 
wife, Wm. Pogue, Edwin Walker and wife, Thos. G. 
Dunn and wife, W. C. Whitaker, Jos. Burt and wife, 
Lenhart Rice and wife, Wm. Rice, Jr., and wife, and 
Enoch Ware and wife were active members of Trin- 
ity Church forty years ago. Mr. Dunn subsequent- 
ly moved to Salem, where he now lives. 

The latter part of September Dr. Graw went to 
Beverly, where his regiment, the "Olden Legion," 
was being recruited. Riley Letts, now living at Rah- 
way, met ''the chaplain," as he was then called, at 
Beverly and formed a friendship that lasted as long 
as life itself. The ''Olden Legion," as the regiment 
was named, left for Washington December 25, 1861, 
with Col. Wm. Bryan in command ; John W. Wright 
as lieutenant-colonel ; Matthew Berryman, major, 
and H. A. Perrine, captain (afterwards major). 

"The Tenth Regiment had a history peculiar to 
itself, being recruited under authority from the War 
Department without the consent and against the 
wishes of the governor of the state." We quote 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 53 

from ''New Jersey and the Rebellion," by John Y. 
Foster: "The regiment proceeded to Washington 
December, 1861, but for a time was of little service, 
falling almost immediately, indeed, into disrepute, 
owing to its defective organization and the absence 
of proper discipline." Gov. Olden was requested in 
January, 1862, to take charge of the organization as a 
part of the quota of New Jersey and place it on a 
proper footing for service. This he declined to do 
at first, but finally consented on condition that Col. 
Wm. R. Murphy be placed in command with power 
to choose his officers. Col. Murphy assumed com- 
mand of the regiment February 19, 1862. Early in 
the summer of that year the regiment was given pro- 
vost guard duty at Washington. Previous to that 
they had been encamped at Camp Clay, on the 
Bladensburg road, about two miles from Washing- 
ton. That section was in the suburbs in 1862, but 
has since become a part of Washington. It was a 
favorite resort for duellists, before the war, and many 
a dispute has been settled there by this now happily- 
obsolete method. The regiment remained on pro- 
vost duty until early in 1863, when it was ordered to 
Suffolk, Va., and thereafter engaged in many hard- 
fought battles in which it took a most honorable part. 
The men were brave enough, but lacked in discipline 
and proper organization. 

Capt. Wm. Rennyson, now publisher of the Nor- 
ristown Times, was probably Chaplain Graw's most 
intimate friend in the army, and they were very close 
together for a year or more. Both were members of 
the Masonic order and this tie served to bind them 
the more closely in confidential relations. They 



54 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

were men of similar tastes. Both were total ab- 
stainers, and were of strong religious tendencies. 
The chaplain was a good talker and the captain was 
a fine singer. Consequently their religious meetings 
were enjoyable and profitable. All of the men in 
the regiment who were religiously inclined had the 
kindliest feeling for the chaplain, but not so with the 
men whose idea of army life embraced drinking and 
carousing and other forms of evil. These men hated 
the doughty little chaplain, who was in his 29th year, 
but as fearless and outspoken then as he was in after 
years. Captain Rennyson writes: ''Chaplain Graw 
was a most devout and conscientious Christian man, 
and was dearly loved by all of the regiment who were 
inclined to be church people. He was a most deter- 
mined and active temperance man." 

Quotations from official sources have been made 
in a preceding paragraph to indicate a condition 
which calls for further explanation. The reason the 
regiment ''fell into disrepute" is traceable to excessive 
drinking on the part of those who exercised super- 
vision over the men. The chaplain at once began a 
movement looking to reformation along this line, and 
after a bitter fight succeeded in his purpose, al- 
though it came near to costing him his life. Only 
the faithful watching of his orderly, John G. Bowen, 
prevented his being murdered one night while sleep- 
ing in his tent. It will not do for younger men to 
censure too severely the lapses of those who were in 
command during the early period of the civil war. 
It is impossible now to gain an adequate conception 
of the utter demoralization which came upon the 
army before it settled itself firmly to what proved 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 55 

to be the most herculean task of modern times. Vet- 
erans of the war of 1861-65 smile grimly when they 
hear the soldiers of the Spanish war speak of the ob- 
stacles they encountered in Cuba. There can be no 
comparison between these two wars. 

Captain Rennyson's case was one of many hun- 
dreds of the same kind. He was barely 20 when he 
raised his company of men (some of whom were old 
enough to be his father), and took them to Wash- 
ington. The captain frankly admits he didn't know 
anything at all about military affairs; that he had 
been an ardent abolitionist before the war, and when 
hostilities began, thought it to be his duty to raise a 
company of volunteers. The company's reason for 
selecting its captain was based on gratitude rather 
than on the military qualifications of the youngster 
who was selected to lead them. But the war was long 
enough to develop citizens into fighting soldiers, and 
captains skilled and courageous. 

Camp life at Washington was monotonous and of- 
ficers and men longed for more activity. But they 
were still kept at the capital, where their services 
were needed. His health becoming impaired by the 
exposures of camp life. Chaplain Graw resigned in 
February, 1863, and went to his wife's home in Stat- 
en Island to await the 27th session of the Conference 
which was to convene in Burlington, March 18, 1863. 

The following article on the second battle of Bull 
Run was written by Dr. Graw in 1894 and published 
in the New Jersey Gazette, of which he was then 
associate editor, it being one of a series in which Gen. 
James F. Rusling, of Trenton, Capt. W. F. Kilgore, 
the late Geo. R. Danenhower, of Camden, E. Chand- 



56 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ler Reed, of Beverly, Col. H. F. Chew, of Camden, 
Drs. G. B. Wight, J. W. Morris and James E. Lake, 
Rev. D. B. Harris and others, were contributors : 

THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 

July and August, 1862, was one of the darkest per- 
iods of the war against the rebellion. The army of 
the Potomac commenced its movement against Rich- 
mond, via the Peninsula, under the command of 
General McClellan, in March, 1862. Our army was 
large and almost perfect in its equipments and dis- 
cipline. Every possible preparation had been made 
to insure the capture of Richmond and the overthrow 
of the Confederacy. The soldiers were eager for 
battle, and fully believed with their commander that 
the campaign would be ''sharp, short and decisive." 
The president and the people beheved that Richmond 
was doomed, and that the war would be over in a tew 
months. So confident were the authorities of a 
speedy termination of the war, that recruiting offices 
were closed in April, and a few unimportant military 
organizations were mustered out of service. But 
after the heavy fighting in May, and the "seven days* 
battles" in June, our army fell back to Harrison's 
Landing in July. Twice during the Peninsula cam- 
paign Richmond might have been captured, but the 
opportunities were lost, and this only intensified the 
mortification and discouragement of the people at 
large. 

During the month of June General Pope was 
placed in charge of what was denominated the 
"Department of Virginia," with the particular 



REV. J. B. GRJAW, D.D. 57 

duty of protecting Washington. Little of interest 
transpired in this department until August 9, when a 
severe but indecisive battle was fought at Cedar 
Mountain. Shortty after this battle McClellan was 
ordered to withdraw from Harrison's Landing and 
report on the Potomac. This placed his army in the 
Department of Virginia of which General Pope was 
commander, and as department commander he 
ranked all ofBcers in his jurisdiction except the com- 
mander-in-chief. Considerable feeling was manifest- 
ed against General Pope in consequence of his sen- 
sational order issued on assuming command of the 
department in which he said his "headquarters would 
be in the saddle," and lines of retreat would not be 
considered. Nevertheless it is proper to say that he 
was a brave soldier and would have made a fine corps 
or division commander while he evidently lacked the 
qualifications necessary for the command of an army. 
Lee having forced McClellan to Harrison's Landing 
now turned his attention to General Pope, in the ex- 
pectation of destroying his army before it could be 
reinforced by the army of McClellan. It is beheved 
that Lee had about double the army that Pope com- 
manded, and therefore General Pope very properly 
fell back beyond the Rappahannock, on August 20. 
August 22 Stuart made a cavalry dash around the 
right of Pope, reaching Catlett's Station, near the 
Union headquarters, and seized the personal bag- 
gage of Pope, together with his dispatch book con- 
taining information as to the disposition of the Fed- 
eral forces. It is said that Stuart was guided by a 
negro. If this be true, it is the only instance we can 
recall of a negro giving such information to the ene- 



58 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

my. With scarcely an exception the negroes be- 
Heved that the war was for their emancipation. 

A strikin,sf incident occurred about this time which 
indicated the faith of many of the slaves. An old 
patriarch came into our camp and I asked him what 
side he was on, and what he thought of our whipping 
the south. He looked me squarely in the face, and 
pointing to our boys in blue said, quoting from 
Isaiah : ''Lo, this is our God ; we have waited for Him, 
and He will save us." He evidently beheved that 
God intended to emancipate the slaves through the 
Union armies.. 

LEE'S BOLD MANCEUVRE. 

The information that General Lee obtained 
through the dispatch book of Gen. Pope led him to 
attempt the capture of Pope's entire army. To do 
this, however, he must divide his own arm}^, which, 
under ordinary circumstances, is a hazardous thing to 
do. Having determined to attack Pope by front and 
rear, Lee dispatched Stonewall Jackson, on August 
25;, with 30,000 men to march up the western side of 
the Bull Run Mountains, which lay between him and 
the Union army, A forced march of twenty miles 
brought Jackson to Thoroughfare Gap, through 
which he marched August 2y, and by sunset he 
reached Bristoe Station on the Orange Railroad, 
which was Pope's principal source of supply. A part 
of Jackson's forces moved on to Manassas Junction, 
about seven miles distant, where we had large stores 
of provisions which were captured and destroyed. 
Pope made a serious mistake in not guarding Thor- 
oughfare Gap, as a small number of men could have 



REV. J. B. GRjAW, D.D. 59 

prevented Jackson from coming through it. Sigel 
was exceedingly anxious to have the Gap protected, 
but Pope thought it improbable that Lee would 
divide his army under the circumstances. 

A short but sharp engagement took place at Bris- 
toe Station, between Hooker and Ewell, which 
showed Jackson that his movement was not altogeth- 
er a surprise, and that he was in danger of being at- 
tacked in front, flank and rear. To deceive Pope, 
Gen. Jackson moved towards Centreville, then turn- 
ing sharply toward the battle-field of 1861, he took a 
strong position and waited for Longstreet to re-in- 
force him. On the evening of the 28th our army be- 
came engaged with the extreme right of Jackson, 
Gen. Pope hoping to crush him before Longstreet 
could come to his relief, but Longstreet arrived at the 
critical period and enabled Jackson to maintain his 
ground. 

PORTER'3 DANGEROUS DELAY. 

Gen. Pope had ordered Gen. Fitz John Porter to 
the front, but for some cause he did not respond, al- 
though his corps was within easy reach of the battle- 
field. Just why Porter did not obey the orders he 
received has never been made clear to my mind, al- 
though I have read both sides of the controversy. If 
Porter had come to the help of Pope as promptly as 
Longstreet came to the rescue of Jackson, our defeat 
at the second battle of Bull Run would have been 
turned into a glorious victory. In saying this I must 
not be understood as condemning Porter as a traitor, 
as it is not my purpose to discuss his action at that 
time. On the morning of the 30th both armies were 



6o LIFE AND TIMES OF 

inactive, and it appeared that neither of the com- 
manders was anxious to bring on an engagement. 
However, towards noon Pope received information 
that the rebels were in full retreat, and he ordered a 
vigorous pursuit. The enemy, however, were not 
retreating, but were drawn up in the form of an irreg- 
ular L in a strong position. To my mind Pope had 
courage and dash enough but he failed to properly 
locate the enemy or comprehend his plans so as to 
defeat him. As a matter of fact he did not know, 
when the battle began, that he was confronted by 
Longstreet as well as Jackson. Heintzelman and 
Reno as they advanced encountered a terrible fire 
from the enemy, who was almost invisible. For a 
time our men withstood this murderous fire, but 
eventually were compelled to fall back and take shel- 
ter in the woods. As Fitz John Porter failed us on 
the 29th at a critical moment, he came up on the 30th 
at a critical moment and saved the army from com- 
plete rout. I have said that the rebel armies were 
arranged for battle like an irregular L. At this dan- 
gerous period these lines were gradually closing in 
on us, and had not Porter's corps, or a part of it, 
seized a commanding position and checked the ene- 
my, our army would have been routed if not cap- 
tured. 

We were able to retreat across Bull Run towards 
Centreville with some degree of order, although 
there was much demoralization and confusion among 
a considerable number of regiments. Our forces 
were not held in hand by the commanders ; several 
brigades missed their way and did not participate in 
the battle of the 30th, and on September ist there 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 6i 

was much trouble in re-organizing our forces. To- 
wards night, however, we were in fair condition to 
meet the enemy had he attacked us, although it must 
be confessed that the army was strongly inchned to 
move towards Washington. On September 2d Jack- 
son, with his usual audacity, made a reconnoisance 
towards Washington, and a sharp encounter took 
place at Chantilly, not far from Fairfax Court House. 
In this battle Generals Kearney and Reno were 
killed. 

No wonder the people were discouraged. In the 
early spring we set out to capture Richmond, fully 
expecting to succeed, but now in September a large 
rebel army, flushed with victory, confronts Washing- 
ton, and if they had known all things it is possible 
they might have captured it. 

TWO BLOODY BATTLES. 

The battles of August 29 and 30 were desperate 
and bloody. Our loss in killed and wounded was 
about 11,000, while that of the enemy was not much 
less. To my mind the magnitude and importance 
of these battles have not been fully comprehended. 
They were great when we consider the number of 
men engaged, as there were nearly 40,000 men on 
each side, and the desperate character of the fighting 
is seen when we remember that about one-fourth of 
this number was killed or wounded. 

In going over the battlefield under a flag of truce 
I witnessed such horrors as I had scarcely ever 
looked upon before or since. Thousands of the dead 
and wounded were lying around, while the wounded 
and dying were moaning and praying. Men who 



62 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

were horribly mangled called upon God to release 
them from their misery, while others were pleading 
for pardon and peace. I knelt down beside a bright- 
faced young soldier who belonged to an Ohio regi- 
ment, and prayed with him. While praying, those 
within the sound of my voice closed their eyes rever- 
ently, while some responded with a fervent amen, to 
the petitions that were presented in their behalf. The 
young man to whom I have referred died with a smile 
of triumph on his face shortly after the prayer was 
ended. One poor fellow who was severely wounded, 
asked me to come and kneel close to his side so that 
he might get the full benefit of the prayer. 

While engaged in helping the wounded from the 
field I encountered Chaplain Thomas Sovereign, of 
the Fifth New Jersey Regiment, who was looking 
for his son, he having been reported killed. The son 
was adjutant of a New York regiment. After a time 
we found his body and buried it. 

WITHIN THE REBEL LINES. 

On the 29th, as I was passing through the woods 
to reach a field hospital, I was greatly astonished at 
being confronted by a squad of rebels. The lieuten- 
ant in command ordered me to ''get out" of my boots 
and coat in ''double quick," with which reasonable 
request I at once complied. I was hustled towards 
the rebel's rear as rapidly as possible. I soon found 
myself in company with a Union surgeon, who had 
also been stripped of boots and coat. Fortunately, 
however, we were not long within the rebel lines. In 
the darkness and confusion we slipped into the bush- 
es, and hurried along,^ not knowing which way we 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 63 

were traveling until we heard the dick of a musket 
and the voice of a sentinel asking, "Who comes 
there?" Quickly and silently we stretched ourselves 
upon the ground, and awaited developments. Di- 
rectly, another sentinel approached, and after a 
moment's conversation they agreed that "it must be 

a hog." I will only add that my temper was 

not rufHed in the least by being called a hog under 
the circumstances. After lying quiet for awhile we 
crawled along until we believed that we had passed 
the rebel line, and were fortunate enough to reach 
our own pickets just before the break of day. 

RBTREAT TO WASHINGTON AND REORGANIZATION. 

In falling back towards Washington the army pre- 
sented a grotesque appearance. Some soldiers had 
thrown away their arms and knapsacks. All were 
more or less demoralized. Some swore they would 
never fight again, while others treated the whole mat- 
ter as a ridiculous farce. 

In passing through Fairfax Court House I tried to 
get something to eat, not having had anything like a 
meal for several days. All that I could buy was a 
pint jar of pickled tomatoes, for which I paid $1.00. 
As this was a poor apology for dinner, I approached 
two soldiers who were feasting on hard-tack and cof- 
fee, offering them a dollar in cash and half of my 
pickles in exchange for one hard-tack and a small tin- 
cup full of coffee. They said, "No ; keep your mon- 
ey. Give us each a pickle and help yourself to hard- 
tack and coffee." When I arrived at Alexandria I 
looked as forlorn as any tramp that I have ever seen, 
and was so completely worn out that I laid down on 



64 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the floor of what had been a beer saloon and went to 
sleep at once. 

But what a change took place within less than ten 
days ! The shattered armies that straggled into the 
earthworks south of the Potomac were reorganized 
and equipped for effective service once more. While 
from one standpoint of observation the second Bull 
Run battles may be regarded as defeats, yet from an- 
other they should be recognized as battles by which 
Washington was saved from capture. General Mc- 
Clellan had been ordered to the command of the de- 
fenses of Washington, and as the army of the Poto- 
mac was now within the defenses, he was actually re- 
stored to his old command. The army received him 
with enthusiasm, and obeyed with alacrity his order 
to march in pursuit of Lee, who had moved towards 
the Upper Potomac by way of the Shenandoah Val- 
ley. Our march through Washington was Hke the 
return of a victorious army rather than that of an 
army which had been defeated so recently. Presi- 
dent Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, and other high offi- 
cials, gave abundant evidence of their delight to see 
us, while the whole city was moved with joy. 

So ended the night of Bull Run, and with joy we 
turned from battlefields that were lost through bad 
generalship rather than through lack of courage on 
the part of our soldiers, to the brighter morning ush- 
ered in by South Mountain and Antietam. 




REV. J. B. GRAW, D. D. 
Takea in 1863. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. , 65 



CHAPTER VII. ^ 

SOUTH STREET, SALEM— 1863-1864. 

^^^ HE New Jersey Annual Conference held its 
\A^ 27th session in Burlington, beginning March 
18, 1863, Bishop Levi Scott presiding. 
Henry B. Beegle was secretary and had as his assis- 
tant I. D. King. Dr. Graw had returned from a 
year and four months' service in the army as chap- 
lain and was put on the Committee on the State of 
the Country, of which Philip Cline was chairman. 

Union sentiment ran high and the greatest enthu- 
siasm prevailed. After the missionary sermon by 
Dr. King, a patriotic service was held, when the stars 
and stripes were raised over the Broad Street Church. 
Addresses were made by N. Vansant, of the Newark 
Conference, and C. W. Heisley, G. R. Snyder and 
R. V. Lawrence, of the New Jersey Conference. The 
report of the Committee on the State of the Country 
which was strongly in favor of the Union and *'the 
prosecution of the war to the putting down of the re- 
bellion," was adopted by a vote of 102 to i. The 
committee was composed of L Winner, J. Atwood, J. 
W. Hickman, S. Y. Monroe, S. Parker, S. Vansant, 
P. Cline, C. W. Heisley, J. B. Graw, R. A. Chalker. 
Rev. C. W. Heisley is the only member of the com- 
mittee who is now living. 

Before going further it would be in order to re- 
view briefly the work of the Conference of 1862, the 
year Dr. Graw was in the army. The 26th session 



(^ LIFE AND TIMES OF 

of the Conference was held at New Brunswick with 
Bishop Janes in the chair. It began on March 19th. 
At this Conference the question of lay representation 
in the General Conference was voted on, with the fol- 
lowing- results : Ministerial vote, for, 32 ; against, 76. 
Lay vote, for, 961 ; against, 974. The laymen, there- 
fore, actually voted against their own representation 
in the General Conference. The lay vote by districts 
was: Trenton District, for, 278; against, 243. Bur- 
lington District, for, 216; against, 272. Camden 
District, for, 228; against, 206. Bridgeton District, 
for, 239; against, 253. One resolution offered by 
Isaac Winner, "that a committee be appointed to ex- 
amine the affairs of the Book Concern," caused con- 
siderable ''debate" and was finally withdrawn. Chap- 
lain Graw, who had come from Washington to be 
present at the Conference session, was one of the 
speakers at the anniversary of the Tract Society held 
Monday afternoon in the Conference church (Liber- 
ty Street). Just before adjournment a vote of thanks 
was tendered the Camden and Amboy Railroad "for 
excursion tickets." 

South Street, Salem, was Dr. Graw's first appoint- 
ment after returning from the army. Charles E. Hill 
was sent to Broadway Church, Salem, the same year. 
Dr. Whitecar was then presiding elder of the Bridge- 
ton District. Rulifif V. Lawrence was at South 
Street the previous year and had been very success- 
ful in his work, reporting 368 members and 56 pro- 
bationers. The salary was $800, and $140.48 were 
raised for missions that year. 

Salem is an interesting old city and has many 
^nci^nt landmarks. Its origin dates back to 1640, 



REV. J. B. GRiAW, D.D. 67 

when a few English families settled along Salem 
Creek. Incorporation was effected in 1695. In 
1700 the "Brick Meeting House" at Salem, supposed 
to be the first brick building of record in the state, 
was built. In 1705-8 a road was laid out to Maurice 
River. Salem was a port of entry in 1685. The 
Friends held their first yearly meeting at Salem in 
1686. The Salem Methodist Church is one of the 
oldest in the state, the society having been formed in 
1775 and the church erected in 1785. 

After Conference Dr. Graw went to Staten Island, 
where his family was, and a few days later left for 
his new charge in Salem. The start was made early 
in the day, the route being by train to Philadelphia, 
where the boat was taken for Salem, and it was after 
dark when they arrived at their destination. Rev. 
C. E. Hill and family accompanied them on the boat 
from Philadelphia and the children of the two fam- 
ilies kept their parents in constant fear of some mis- 
hap by their pranks. Mr. Hill was on his way to 
assume charge of Broadway Church. 

South Street (now First Church) was located on 
the street by the same name, which is now known as 
Walnut street, both the street and the church having 
changed their names. The first structure in which 
the local society worshipped was built in 1785, the 
society was formed ten years earlier. This building 
was altered and afterwards used as a parsonage when 
the second church was erected in 1837. Undressed 
timber was used for floor beams in the original struc- 
ture. The parsonage was moved to its present site a 
few years ago. The church now standing was built in 
1887. The second church building was in use, and 



68 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the parsonage adjoined the church, in 1863, when 
Dr. Graw went to Salem. 

Here as elsewhere the ravages of time are painful- 
ly apparent. Most of the active workers of 1863-64 
have gone to their reward, but a number remain. 
Sheppard Harris, whose son is proprietor of the 
Salem South Jerseyman, was class leader and record- 
ing steward in '63-'64. Wm. Drummond, Sunday 
morning class leader and one of the oldest members, 
still Hves. Peter Stepler and J. Wesley Parker are 
survivors, the latter being well along in years. These 
are some of the men and women who bore the burdens 
of church work nearly two score years ago: W. 
H. Wood and wife, Peter Stepler and wife, Joshua 
Long, Joseph Robinson, the class leaders, Charles 
Daniels, John Wright, Sheppard Harris and Stacy 
Collins ; Samuel Stiles and wife (the latter still living 
at an advanced age), Joseph Biddle, at one time re- 
cgrding steward, and Samuel Corliss, who was a 
noted singer and father of Rev. J. O. R. Corliss, of 
the New Jersey Conference. S. L. Bell was another 
active church worker and warm friend. 

Old South Street has sent out a number of her sons 
to fill honored places in the ministry. Joseph B. Tur- 
pin, who was a miller; Henry Belting, who was a 
shoemaker; J. O. R. Corliss, who was a candy maker, 
and Wm. S. Barnart, who was a printer, were all 
mothered by South Street. Charles W. Livezly, H. 
G. Williams (who for years has been identified with 
Pitman Grove, the Mecca for South Jersey Metho- 
dists), and Walter Souder were among her offspring. 
Mr. Souder was educated at Pennington Seminary, 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 69 

but becoming interested in Dwight L. Moody's work, 
drifted into the Congregational church and is now 
pastor of an influential society of that denomination 
near Chicago. 

J. B. Graw watched carefully over his probationers. 
In the probationers' book I found this memoran- 
dum set opposite a number of names marked with an 
asterisk: "The probationers marked Apr. 1864 are 
continued on account of being young. — ^J. B. G." 
And here is another which is even more characteris- 
tic : ''These have been continued on double duty to 
see what they will come to. — J. B. G." A proba- 
tioners' class was formed April i, 1864, with the pas- 
tor as leader, and here is the list of members entered 
in the book of record : W. Wallace Wood, Wilson D. 
Parker, Samuel H. Stiles, Charles H. Moore, Wm. 
Smashy, Jr., Charles H. Robinson, Isaac Richmond, 
Benjamin Lippincott, Eli M. Richmond, Wallace G. 
Stiles, James Morrison, Richard Kirby, Samuel F. 
Hall, Wm. Gastner, David B. Bacon, Abbie Hurley, 
Rebecca Hurley, Clara Faunce, Irving V. Hall, 
George Fox, Albert H. Daniels, Mary Emma 
Young, Emma L. Sparks, Sallie Fogg, Martha M. 
Cox, Frank A. Morton, Charles Fox, Julius Johnson, 
Wm. Mason, and Edmund J. Parker. 

There is historic interest centering in the old bury- 
ing ground connected with South Street. Here lie 
the remains of Benjamin Abbot, whose epitaph is a 
concise history of his Hfe, and Thomas Ware, who 
was present at the organization of the Methodist 
Episcopal church in 1784. Abbot's grave is marked 
by a modest slab bearing this quaint inscription : 



70 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Sacred 
To the Memory of Rev. Benjamin Abbot, 25 years a member, 

16 years a local and 7 years a traveling preacher in the M. E. 

church. He died Aug. 1796, aged 64 years. A holy, zealous and 

useful man of God. 

O happy exit, though the body must 
Now mingle with its native mother dust, 
Yet the bright seraphim, without delay. 
Escorts his soul to realms of endless day. 
Angels and saints now greet him as he flies 
And hail and shout him welcome to the skies. 
Loud hallelujahs to redeeming love 
Resound and echo through the worlds above. 
"Glory to God" they sing in anthems new, 
Abbot is there and joins the chorus, too. 



Erected by J. Garrison Esqr and others of 
Brooklyn, Kings County, N. Y. 

The monument to Thomas Ware is much more im- 
posing and bears on three of its four panels legends 
which are of suflficient interest to reproduce here. 
The panel on the east is as follows: 

"In memory of 
The Rev. Thomas Ware, born Dec. 19, 1758, was one of the patriots 
of '76, converted to God 1781, entered the gospel ministry 1783, was 
present at the organization of the Methodist E. church on 
Christmas Day 1784, was a member of the first delegated General 
Conference of 1812, and after being connected with the itinerancy 
in its different departments for 61 years departed this life March 
11, 1842, aged 83 years, 2 months and 22 days. 



The fathers, where are they? 

And the prophets, do they live forever?" 

The north panel reads : 

"Also 

To the memory of 

Barbary M. 

Consort of the Rev. T. Ware 

Who departed this life 

December 15, 1839, 

Aged 78 years and 2 months. 



Her ornament was that of a meek and quiet 
spirit." 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. n 

The south panel contains this inscription : 

"This monument is erected by the citizens of Salem and others 
as a testimony of respect for the virtue of those whose names it 
bears. Lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death they 
were not divided." 

As in other charges served by Dr. Graw there were 
incidents of a personal nature that can be told better 
now than they could have been were he still living. 
When Chaplain Graw left the army he kept his horse 
and saddle and took them with him to Salem, and 
was often seen dashing up and down the streets of 
the city astride his old army horse. His unminister- 
ial appearance and equestrian habits, were a grievous 
sorrow to one good old father in Israel, who did not 
for a long time become wholly reconciled to the new 
pastor's way of doing things. But the preacher was 
Methodistic to the core, and he soon overcame these 
prejudices, which seem trivial when reviewed in these 
days. The army horse was sold to Thomas Hackett 
for $190, near the end of the first year. 

At the close of the second year Dr. Graw was giv- 
en an unanimous invitation to return, but he was in- 
cautious enough to announce just before going to 
Conference that he would build a new church if he 
came back. This alarmed the brethren, who were 
well satisfied with the church as it then was, and they 
held a subsequent meeting and decided to ask the 
presiding elder not to send Dr. Graw back for the 
third year, as they did not want to go to the expense 
of building a new church. This letter was mailed to 
Presiding Elder Whitecar, who on meeting Dr. Graw 
at Conference said: "Where are you going, Graw?" 
"Back to Salem," was the reply. "But they don't 



n LIFE AND TIMES OF 

want you," said the elder. ''Oh, yes, they do, they 
unanimously asked for my return." Then the pre- 
siding elder showed the mystified pastor the letter 
from the home church containing an account of the 
action taken by the official board after Dr. Graw had 
gone to Conference. It isn't necessary to describe 
the doctor's feeUngs or remarks when the cold facts 
became known to him; but it is only just to say that 
in later years the incident was forgiven or forgotten, 
which is practically the same thing. 

In 1 88 1 South Street (then called Walnut Street) 
Church wanted Rev. Geo. H. Neal, and a committee 
was sent to Conference to secure him. Mr. Neal was 
at Gloucester City and Dr. Graw was his presiding 
elder. Fearing their old pastor would remember the 
affair of 1865 they delegated to Peter Stepler the 
task of sounding the doctor. Peter met the doctor 
on the steps of the Conference church, and his greet- 
ing was characteristic : ''Hello, Jacob." "Hello, Peter, 
what do you want?" "We want Neal." A signifi- 
cant pause and then this question was asked : "Is that 
all you want?" "Yes," rephed Peter. "All right; 
I'll do what I can for you." They got their man. 

An incident which occurred at Woodstown a short 
time ago shows how sharply Dr. Graw watched mat- 
ters which were seemingly unimportant. When the 
list of official men was being read ofif by the pastor, 
Rev. E. Mount, he came to the name of Henry H. 
Stepler, and the doctor at once interrupted the pas- 
tor and asked: "Is Mr. Stepler present, and if so, will 
he stand up?" "Here I am," responded Mr. Stepler. 
"Are you a son of Peter Stepler of Salem?" "They 
say I am," came the ready response, "and I believe I 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 73 

am." The lapse of over thirty years had not been 
sufficient to erase from his memory the recollection 
of a former parishioner. 

The record for the two years at Salem is as follows : 
First year, probationers, 45 ; missionary collection, 
$214.50; salary $800; second year, probationers, 70; 
missionary collection, $308.25; salary $1000. Then 
he went to Lambertville for a three-year term, and 
Lambertville was willing to have a new church built. 



74 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



3 



CHAPTER VIII. 

LAMBERTVILLE-X865-1867. 

EFORE entering on the record of work done 
at Lambertville it will be well to briefly re- 
view the two previous sessions of the Confer- 
ence. The Conference of 1864 was held at Bridge- 
ton and was presided over by Bishop Simpson. A 
resolution was unanimously passed "to suspend the 
United States flag over the church during the ses- 
sion of the Conference." S. Y. Monroe, W. E. Per- 
ry, C. H. Whitecar and A. K. Street were elected 
delegates to the General Conference. "]. B. Graw 
made interesting remarks about preaching to chil- 
dren," to quote from the Minutes, and served on the 
Committee on Temperance this year for the first 
time. He was also examiner for the third year's 
course of study and was a visitor to the Wesleyan 
Female College. This resolution in the Temper- 
ance Committee's report was evidently of his mak- 
ing: "Resolved 5. That we are opposed to the dis- 
tribution of whiskey rations in the army and navy, 
believing rum to be the legitimate father of courts- 
martial and ruin." The 29th session (1865) of the 
Conference was presided over by Bishop Ames, I. D. 
King succeeding H. B. Beegle as secretary. It 
was held in Greene Street Church, Trenton. The 
Newark Conference visited the New Jersey Confer- 
ence in a body on Friday morning, and were addressed 
by Bishops Ames and Janes, and by Gov. Parker. 









L.\MBERTVILLE M. E. CHURCH. 
(Built by Dr. J. B. Graw, in 1865.) 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 75 

The Newark Conference's interest in Pennington 

Seminary was transferred to the New Jersey Con- 
ference at this session. J. B. Graw was chairman of 
the Committee of Admission on Trial this year, with 
G. C. Maddock and G. H. TuUis as associates. 

The records of the Lambertville Church do not tell 
when Methodist services were first held in that place. 
Rev. Geo. Whitefield* preached once at Amwell m 
1740, or thereabouts, and afterwards went to New 
Brunswick, when "he preached to an audience of 7 
or 8000 people." — Archives of N. J. 

It is said the pastor of New Hope M. E. Church 
used to cross the Delaware and hold services in Lam- 
bertville long before the local society was formvid. 
Eighty or ninety years ago a "quarterly meeting" 
was held in Hunterdon county, not far from Lam- 
bertville. In the spring of 1837 Rev. Mr. Hevener 
and Rev. James M. Tuttle were appointed to Flem- 
ington Circuit. They made bi-weekly visits to Lam- 
bertville, preaching at the house of Mrs. Gerhart. 
Soon after this a class was formed, which made a nu- 
cleus for the local church. John Silvers was the first 
class leader, and he had Newton Bateman as his as- 
sistant. In 1839 Lambertville was on the Penning- 
ton and Rock Ridge Circuit. The original church 

*Rev. George Whitefield, a co-laborer with John Wesley, was 
born December 16, 1714, and died September 30, 1770. While at Pem- 
broke College Oxford, he became intimate with Charles Wesley 
and was an enthusiastic member of the club in which the de- 
nomination of Methodists took its rise. His preaching was at- 
tended by remarkable demonstrations of power. Whitefield, at 
John Wesley's request, came to America in 1737. He returned home 
in 1738 and again visited America in 1739. In 1740 he visited the New 
England states, and it was while en route there from Georgia that 
he preached at several points in New Jersey, arousing great in- 
terest in his preaching and the doctrines taught. 



^d LIFE AND TIMES OF 

was completed in 1839, ^^<^ dedicated in 1840 by Rev. 
Dr. Charles Pitman and Rev. Dr. D. W. Bartine. In 
1 841 Lambertville was detached from Pennington, 
but the following year was annexed to Flemington 
Circuit. Lambertville remained on the Flemington 
Circuit until 1844, when it was detached and with the 
church at New Market formed a separate charge. 
In 1855 the church was remodeled. 

Dr. O'Hanlon preceded Dr. Graw as pastor of 
Lambertville church, he having a glorious revival in 
1863, when 263 probationers were brought into the 
church. ; 

Dr. Graw went to Lambertville in the spring of 
1865 ^i^d ii^ August of the same year the new church 
building was begun, and in the summer of 1866 was 
dedicated by Bishop Simpson. The edifice is fifty- 
five feet wide and eighty feet deep. The parsonage 
now in use was completed in 1874. 

A. H. Hart, who has been a member of the of^- 
cial board since 1874, was in the church during Dr. 
Graw's pastorate of three years. Very few of his old 
associates remain. Among the leaders and atten- 
dants in 1865-7 were John Silvers, who was a class 
leader and member of the Building Committee, Job 
Silvers, John Sands, Cornelius Arnet, who was a 
member of the Building Committee, old "Father 
Bresley," Elias Hof^singer, Gardner Stockton, an- 
other class leader, Mrs. John Silvers, Mrs. Cornelia 
Arnet, Mrs. Maggie Hunt (nee Thornton), a mem- 
ber of the choir, Mrs. Julia A. Powell (nee Horn), 
another member of the choir, Alexander Silvers, 
James Broughton, choir leader, John L. Coryell, 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. ^^ 

Frank Moore, superintendent of the Sunday school, 
Wm. Johnson, then superintendent of the Iron 
Works, but now Hving in Chicago; John German, 
Wm. Silvers, Wilbur and Israel Silvers, the former 
d3ang at 2.6 after having entered the ministry; Isaac 
Clevenger and wife, JuHa Silvers, Arthur Green and 
Mary Ann Green. Dr. Graw performed the mar- 
riage ceremony for W. T. Powell and Miss Julia 
Horn, Rev. John J. Graw also being present and of- 
fering prayer on behalf of the young couple. 

Dr. Graw had not long been in charge of the 
church before active operations were begun. Here 
is a transcript from the trustees' minute book, June 
9, 1865 : "On motion of Bro. Graw, Resolved, That 
a committee of five be appointed to solicit subscrip- 
tions and procure plans, specifications, etc., relative 
to commencing work. The following were appoint- 
ed said committee: J. B. Graw, pastor; Bro. Ham- 
mell, Theodore Silvers, S. G. Stockton and Stacy 
Bray." On July 13, 1865, this committee was ap- 
pointed ''to secure proposals for building new church, 
viz. : William Johnson, Job Silvers, Stacy Sands." 

The record for the three years is as follows: 1865. 
Probationers, 52 ; Missionary collection, $92.62 ; sal- 
ary, $1000; Sunday school scholars, 219. 1866, pro- 
bationers, 106; missions, $244.49; salary, $1125; 
Sunday school scholars, 360. 1867, probationers, 40; 
missions, $241.29; salary, $1250. 

Before considering the Conference of 1868, which 
met in the Lambertville church, we will take a glance 
at the two preceding sessions. The Conference of 
1866 was held in Third Street Church, Camden, and 
was presided over by Bishop Scott. J. B. Graw 



78 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

served on the Committee on Education this year and 
was made a trustee of the Centenary Fund. Peter 
Provost, George B. Wight and E. C. Hancock were 
admitted on trial in 1866, and Edmund Hewitt and 
Ananias Lawrence into full connection. The session 
of 1867 was held at Keyport with Bishop E. S. Janes 
in the chair. This year Dr. Graw was elected a mana- 
ger of the Freedmen's Aid Society, made an exam- 
iner of the third year's course of studies and served 
on the Committee on Education. In making his re- 
port Presiding Elder Perry said: "Lambertville has 
purchased two lots for a new parsonage." The fol- 
lowing were admitted into full connection this year : 
W. W. Mofifett, J. F. Heilenman, George Reed, J. B. 
Westcott, Henry Baker, Jr., and Joshua A. Lippin- 
cott. This resolution was introduced by J. B. Graw, 
and after debate adopted :''Resolved, i. That as a Con- 
ference we recognize the power vested in the bishop 
to transfer preachers wherever the work demands it. 
Resolved, 2. That nevertheless we are opposed to all 
transfers brought about through private arrange- 
ments, in which the interests of private parties only 
are consulted." A resolution was offered by Dr. 
Winner and Dr. Geo. K. Morris, "authorizing the 
enlargement of Pennington Seminary, at a cost not 
to exceed $40,000, provided that no debt be con- 
tracted to exceed $15,000. Also the erection of an in- 
stitute in South Jersey at a cost not to exceed $40,- 
000, with a similar provision." The resolution was 
adopted. Another resolution on the sudden death 
of Dr. S. Y. Monroe recalls the mysterious fate of 
that gifted and holy man of God, 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 79 

The 32d session of the Conference was held in Dr. 
Graw's church at Lambertville, beginning March i8, 
1868, and presided over by Bishop Scott. E. H, 
Stokes, Isaac Winner, Samuel Vansant, F. A. Mor- 
rell and J. S. Heisler were elected delegates to the 
General Conference. "J- B. Graw, G. R. Snyder and 
J. C. Summerill were appointed a committee to nom- 
inate twice the number of persons to be elected as 
trustees of different Conference Boards, officers and 
managers of the different societies, and stewards of 
the Conference." This resolution introduced by J. 
B. Graw and C. E. Hill sounds very strange in these 
days : ''Resolved, That we tender our sincere thanks 
to the Belvidere and Delaware, Camden and Amboy, 
and Trenton and Philadelphia Railroad Companies 
for their kindness in returning our ministers and peo- 
ple to their homes free of charge." 

At this session of the Conference J. B. Graw was 
sent to Centenary Church, Long Branch. Dr. E. H. 
Stokes was presiding elder of the New Brunswick 
District in 1868, and Ocean Grove was then in its 
infancy. Dr. O. H. Tiffany was at St. James, New 
Brunswick; Dr. J. A. Lippincott was a professor in 
the State Normal School, Henry Baker, Jr., was at 
Freehold, Dr. Whitecar was at Third Street, Cam- 
den, and Wm. V. Kelly was at Centenary Church, 
Camden. In 1868 there were reported for the Con- 
ference: Total membership, 25,171; probationers, 
5101; value of church property, $1,220,380; salaries 
paid, $103,615; missionary collection, $15,832. 



8o LIFE AND TIMES OF 



1R 



CHAPTER IX. 

LONG BRANCH— 1868-1870. 

M. STRATTON preceded Dr. Graw in 'the 
pastorate at Centenary Church, Long 
Branch. The membership in 1867 was 
509, with 62 probationers, and $200 raised for mis- 
sions. Geo. H. Neal was at First Church, which 
then paid a salary of $1000, ahhough the estimate 
was onl}^ $800. Centenary Church's estimate on sal- 
ary was $800 ; receipts $900. 

Long Branch in those days was not nearly so popu- 
lous as it is now, but it was even then famous as a 
summer resort. Gen. Grant spent his summers there, 
and his presence naturally drew a great many noted 
politicians and business men of national reputation. 
The general was quite regular in church attendance, 
and the stewards in counting up the receipts after 
service always found a tightly rolled-up bill of gen- 
erous size in the basket, as a token of his presence 
and interest. 

Dr. T. G. Chattle was one of the leading men in the 
church during Dr. Graw's pastorate of three 3^ears, 
and a most indefatigable worker he was, too. He has 
since passed to his reward, but not until he had made 
a lasting impression for good on the church and com- 
munity. Thomas W. Cooper was also an active 
worker then, and still does yeoman service for his 
church, but as a member of Simpson. Capt. H. B. 
Sherman and Rev. J. J. Garrabrant are still living, in 




CENTENARY CHURCH, LONG BRANCH, 
(The third church built by Dr. J. B. Grav/.) 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 8i 

the enjoyment of good health, and are active in 
church work. Mr. Garrabrant bought a buggy of Dr. 
Graw when he left Long Branch in the spring of 
1 87 1, and the carriage is still in existence and in fair 
condition. Whether the long life of the buggy may 
be attributed to the excellence of its construction, or 
the assiduous care given it by Mr. Garrabrant, who 
cherishes it as a keepsake, is an open question. 

The engraving of Centenary Church which is 
given herewith, is true to life and shows the appear- 
ance of the church in the days when Dr. Graw 
was its pastor. The former parsonage, now occupied 
by a private family, has changed very Uttle. Centen- 
ary Church was destroyed by fire during Dr. West- 
wood's pastorate. 

The First Church and Centenary were the only 
Methodist churches at Long Branch in 1868. The 
old church was built in 1848, and was on the opposite 
side of the street from where the present church now 
stands. In 1865, during the pastorate of R. M. Strat- 
ton, the new church was projected. Ground was 
purchased at a cost of $1150, and $7000 were raised 
on subscription. September 14th ground was brok- 
en, and the cornerstone was laid May, 1866. The 
lecture room was completed in the fall and dedicated 
October 14, 1867. The progress of the work had 
been slow and trying owing to unavoidable causes. 

When J. B. Graw went to Long Branch he found 
affairs in an unsatisfactory condition. An tmfinished 
edifice, whose plans called for about $25,000 more 
than were available from pledges or funds in hand, 
was what confronted the pastor, who had just come 
from Lambertville, where he had built his second 



82 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

church. It would have been more desirable to have 
gone to a charge where nothing in the building line 
had been undertaken, for momentum once lost is hard 
to regain. 

The new pastor lost no time in getting down to 
hard work. On April 17, 1868, he issued a call for a 
meeting at the church, "To consider the finances; 
the propriety of immediately completing the 
church, and the best means of accomplishing the 
work." Inside of four months, such was the speed 
with which the work was pushed, the church was 
ready for dedication. On August 6, 1868, the Long 
Branch News, Capt. James B. Morris, editor, con- 
tained the following item: ''The Centenary M. E. 
Church is rapidly approaching completion. The en- 
tire cost of church and furniture will approximate 
$32,000. The church will comfortably seat 800 per- 
sons." 

The completed church was dedicated Sunday, Au- 
gust 9, 1868, Bishop Janes preaching in the morning 
and Bishop Simpson in the evening. The church was 
crowded, and needed to be, for $15,000 were to be 
raised that day ! After the trustees' statement had 
been read it took just thirty minutes to raise $12,000. 
In the congregation were A. J. Drexel, the Philadel- 
phia banker; Geo. W. Childs, editor of the Public 
Ledger, Philadelphia; A. V. Stout, president of the 
Shoe and Leather Bank, New York City, and many 
other men of large wealth. The liberal contributions 
of these men were of great assistance to the heroic 
church, which was engaged in an effort that taxed 
its powers to the limit. The remaining $3000 were 
raised in the afternoon ^ind evening. Addresses dur- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 83 

ing the day were made by Rev. R. M. Stratton, Pre- 
siding Elder E. H. Stokes, and others. The local 
paper, in an extended report of the occasion, said: 
"Too much can scarcely be said in praise of the pres- 
ent energetic and sensible pastor, Rev. J. B. Graw. 
His labors have been untiring, but have now been 
crowned with complete success." 

Although absorbed in the work of his own pas- 
torate he found time to assist in outside church work, 
and in temperance efforts connected with the Order 
of Good Templars, which was at that period rapidly 
growing in influence and numbers. 

On April 24, 1869, he assisted in laying the cor- 
nerstone of Asbury M. E. Church, Atlanticville. The 
ritual was read by Presiding Elder Stokes, and an in- 
teresting address was made by Rev. Dr. Butler, sec- 
retary of the American and Foreign Christian Union, 
who said "That he and two other missionaries had 
the pleasure of preparing what is supposed to be the 
highest place of Methodist worship in the world. It 
is situated 7400 feet above the level of the sea at a 
place called Nynee Tal, on the Himalaya Mountains, 
while thousands of Sepoys were thirsting for their 
blood at the base of the mountains." After addresses 
by C E. Hill and Wm. T. Abbott, J. B. Graw un- 
dertook to raise $5000, and succeeded in securing* 
about $3500 in cash and pledges, after which the cor- 
nerstone was laid. The dedication of this church 
took place Sunday afternoon, August 9, 1869, Bishop 
Simpson preaching the sermon. Rev. Dr. Butler, 
Presiding Elder Stokes, C. E. H:ill, B. F. Myers (of 
California), J. B. Graw, Dr. J. P. Newman, and S. F. 
Wheeler were present and cissisted in the services. 



84 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

The church and furniture cost $5400, and the $1900 
remaining unprovided for was secured by cash and 
pledges. 

Bishop Simpson was a frequent visitor to Long 
Branch, and was often called on by the pastor to 
preach. At one time he had Gen. Grant, Mrs. Grant, 
Ulysses Grant, Jr., ex-Secretary Borie and Geo. W. 
Childs in his audience. In describing this sermon 
the Long Branch News said : "Bishop Simpson's ser- 
mon was literally a baptism of fire. The bold and 
beautiful imagery of the speaker brought tears to the 
eyes of his hearers and started emotions of quiet joy 
in many hearts." 

The Order of Good Templars was enjoying a 
boom and new lodges were being organized every- 
where. The News of March 11, 1869, said: ''Deputy 
G. W. C. T. J. B. Graw instituted Siloam Lodge, No. 
^1, I. O. G. T., at Mechanicsville, on Saturday night, 
March 5. Delegations were present from Eaton- 
town, Long Branch Village, East Long Branch and 
Atlanticville. The lodge commences its career with 
about .so members. C. V. Golden is W. C. T. and 
Rev. S. F. Wheeler, lodge deputy." Again on May 
24, he lectured at Squan Village and instituted Sea 
Isle Lodge No. Gy, I. O. G. T., with 28 charter mem- 
bers and E. C. Errickson as W. C. T. 

The temperance hall dedication ceremonies on 
June 18, 1869, were conducted by J. B. Graw, Depu- 
ty G. W. C. T., and w^ere attended by a very large 
audience. Piqua Lodge, under the direction of Dr. 
T. G. Chattle, was organized in 1868 with 16 mem- 
bers, and had increased its membership during the 
year to about 200. Piqua had its headquarters in the 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 85 

new hall. There were nine lodges and 1000 mem- 
bers in Monmouth county in 1869. A festival for tlie 
benefit of the lodge July 5, 1869, netted $246. 

Rev. John Simpson, of Island Heights, prepared 
the following sketch of the Order of Good Templars 
for pubUcation in this volume : 

In 1866 The Right Worthy Grand Templar ap- 
pointed I. Newton Pierce, of Philadelphia, as Deputy 
to estabhsh the order in New Jersey. He succeeded 
in organizing ten subordinate lodges, the requisite 
number for tlie formation of a State Grand Lodge, and 
in June, 1867, representatives from the ten subordi- 
nate lodges met in Vineland to organize the Grand 
Lodge of New Jersey. I. Newton Pierce occupied 
the chair. Rev. John Simpson acted as Grand Worthy 
Secretary, N. P. Potter acted as Grand Chaplain, and 
Lucy A. Potter as Grand W^orthy Vice-Templar. 
These oflicers, who had received the Grand Lodge 
decree in other states, then conferred the Grand 
Lodge decree upon the other representatives, among 
whom was Rev. Jacob B. Graw, who represented 
Lodge No. 3, of Lambertvihe. In the election of 
permanent officers, Arthur J. Gould, of Vineland, was 
elected as Grand Worthy Chief Templar; Rev. John 
Simpson, of Elwood, Grand Worthy Secretary ; Har- 
man Yerkes, of Bordentown, Grand Worthy Treasur- 
er; Rev. J. B. Graw, of Lambertvihe, Grand Worthy 
CounseUor, and SalUe A. Stetser, of Camden, Grand 
Worthy Vice-Templar. 

The order had a moderate growth during the year, 
and the second annual met in Camden, at which time 
Rev. J. B. Graw was continued as Grand Worthy 



86 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Counsellor, and Nathan P. Potter was elected Grand 
Worthy Chief Templar. The following year, 1869, 
Dr. Graw was elected Grand Worthy Chief Templar, 
who, with Rev. John Simpson, Grand Worthy Secre- 
tary, at once made arrangements to push the exten- 
sion of the order into new territory, and Dr. Graw put 
his usual vim and snap into the work, with remarka- 
ble success. He was re-elected for the three or four 
succeeding years and left the position with considera- 
bly over one hundred lodges in existence, having in- 
creased from about thirty when he first took the 
office. He continued a potent factor in Grand Lodge 
work for a number of years and largely shaped its 

work and success. 

* * * 

An amusing incident occurred during Dr. Graw's 
pastorate at Long Branch. While he was at Con- 
ference his pulpit was to be filled on Sunday by a 
young man, whose experience on the preaching line 
was Hmited. After floundering around for awhile 
and noticing the smiles of unsympathetic auditors, 
he said : ''If you think it is an easy thing to preach 
come up here in the pulpit and try it yourself, 
for I'm going to quit." And quit he did immediately, 
taking a seat with the audience. 

Among those who were connected with Centenary 
Church during J. B. Graw's pastorate were the fol- 
lowing: Capt. H. B. Sherman and wife, Matthias 
Woolley, James Cloughley, James H. Johne, Tucker 
WooUey, Moses Hampton, Rev. J. J. Garrabrant (lo- 
cal preacher). Tucker C. Edwards, cousin of Lewis 
Edwards; William R. Maps, father-in-law of Dr. 
Thomas O'Hanlon; George Cade, Samuel W. War- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 87 

dell, Hugh M. Jeffrey, Jacob Stultz, John Slocum, 
James Slocum, Robert Emery, James Lane, James 
M. Hopper, James T. Jones, George Slocum, Henry 
Stiles (exhorter), R. B. Shelly, J. W. Lane, James S. 
Potter^ Stewart Cook, Benjamin Conk, Capt. Charles 
H. Valentine, John Hennessy, John S. West, William 
H. Warner, Wm. B. Lippincott, Revo Joline, J. H. 
Wells (now a member of Simpson Church), Garrett 
Hennessy, Benjamin Potter, Henry Hulick, Daniel 
VanBrunt, Charles H. Howland, Rev. James Teed, 
Samuel Hendrickson, Charles P. Huff, formerly a 
class leader (now connected with Simpson), Mrs, 
Timbrook Morris, Miss H. M. Maps and Margaret 
Emery. 

The first year was marked by a sweeping revival 
that brought 290 probationers into the church. In 
1869 there were 50 more additions, and in 1870 
there were 26, making a total of 366 for the three 
years. The salary was $1400 the first year, and $1500 
the second and third years. 

During the last year of Dr. Graw's pastorate at 
Long Branch one of the most distressing incidents of 
his entire life occurred, and plunged the church and 
community into deep mourning. An excursion of 
the Sunday schools of Long Branch, Eatontown, 
Mechanicsville and Atlanticville was taken to Toms 
River on Thursday, September 8, 1870, and it was a 
joyous, romping throng that debarked at the destina- 
tion. Accompanied by a band the excursionists 
marched across the 60-foot bridge that spanned the 
narrow but fast-running stream. For some reason 
or other the band stopped after it crossed the 
bridge, and soon the narrow passageway was jammed 



88 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

with eager excursionists, pushing and jostling each 
other in the effort to go forward. Suddenly there 
was a fearful crash, and the bridge gave way, throw- 
ing scores of men, women and children into the 
water beneath. The scene that followed beggars de- 
scription. The falling timbers and planks made the 
work of rescue doubly difBcult, and it is marvelous 
that only eight lives were lost. Capt. John Grant, 
of Toms River, rescued five excursionists, and many 
other townspeople assisted in the work. The Toms 
River Courier of September 14, 1870, says: "The 
Rev. J. B. Graw, pastor of Centenary Church, who 
was with his flock, stripped off his coat, jumped into 
the water and brought several ashore." 

All of the eight who were drowned were residents 
of Long Branch. A pathetic incident in connection 
with this affair created widespread sympathy. Peter 
Howland, while bringing Mary E. Styles to the shore 
was caught by a drowning woman and all three lost 
their lives. Mr. Howland and Miss Styles were to 
have been married shortly. A few days later they 
were buried in the same grave, the young woman be- 
ing laid out in her wedding gown. The names of the 
drowned, together with their ages, are here given: 
Mrs. Sidney Throckmorton, aged 50; Peter How- 
land, 25; Mary E. Styles, 18; Maria Martin, 25; Hel- 
en Lane, 15; Ella Maple, 15; James Martin, 15; Al- 
faretta Martin, 16. A delegation from Toms River, in- 
cluding Rev. H. G. WiUiams, J. T. H. Wait, George 
W. Cowperthwaite and George M. Joy, editor of the 
Courier, attended the funeral service at Centenary 
Church, bearing with them resolutions of condolence 
from their townspeople. Addresses were made by 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 89 

Rev. Mr. Morrell and Dr. Graw, the latter declaring 
the Toms River people had done all in the power of 
human beings to save life and render assistance to 
those in need. This sad affair has not even to this late 
day passed out of the sorrowful remembrance of the 
people. 

Dr. Graw was now to leave the pastorate and 
enter the wider and more responsible sphere of pre- 
siding elder. He had been in the Conference sixteen 
years when he finished his term of three years at 
Long Branch, and was in his 38th year. A, E, Bal- 
lard was then presiding elder on the New Brunswick 
District and in his 50th year. Samuel Vansant was 
on the Trenton District and in his 48th year. El- 
wood H. Stokes was on the Camden District and in 
his 54th year. W. E. Perry was on the Bridgeton 
District and was also 54 years of age. 



go LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER X. 

PRESIDING ELDER BURLINGTON DISTRICT-1871-1874. 

^^^HE Burlington District contained parts of 
^L, what is now Trenton and Camden Districts 
in 1870. Haddonfield, Atlantic City, Bar- 
gaintown, Mays Landing and Berlin were then on 
this District, which embraced ;^;^ charges. W. E. 
Boyle was at Broad Street, Burlington, on his second 
year; S. Wesley Lake was at Vincentown; Dr. 
Whitecar was at Beverly, Edmund Hewitt was at 
Haddonfield, James H. Payran was at Tuckerton, S. 
F. Wheeler, Dr. Graw's former associate in minister- 
ial labors at Long Branch, was at Absecon. 

The family removed to Mount Holly in the spring 
of 1871, and rented a house on Pine street. C. E. 
Hill, his former colleague at Salem in 1863, was sta- 
tioned at Mount Holly. Some of the men who were 
active in church work then have since risen to posi- 
tions of honor and trust. Charles E. Hendrickson, 
the Sunday school superintendent, was a rising 
young lawyer then. He is now a justice of the Su- 
preme Court. Thomas J. Alcott, a Sunday school 
teacher then, has gained distinction as a manufactur- 
er of turbine water wheels, and is now serving his 
second term as United States Marshal. Congress- 
man Samuel Dobbins was also an influential official 
man in those days, and gave one of his sons (Geo. 
L. Dobbins) to the ministry, and another (John H. 
Dobbins) has for years been an active member of the 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 91 

local church. Rev. J. L. Sooy was a Mount Holly 
bo}^ who has made his mark as a pulpit orator and 
pastor. Other well-known members then were John 
D. Mason, Antis Shinn, Chas. Raynor (now of Vin- 
centown), Joseph Atkinson, Chas. R. Gaunt, Rev. 
Joseph Taylor (local elder), John Evans, Ellsworth 
Holeman, Hannah Heisler (sister of Rev. John S. 
Heisler) and Mrs. Amanda Boyce (nee Bullock). 

It is not generally known how near Mount Holly 
came to having two Methodist churches during Dr. 
Graw's presiding eldership on this District. A legacy 
of a few hundred dollars had been left by a brother 
with the stipulation that it should form the nucleus 
of a fund to build a second Methodist church. The 
plan was favored by many, and so a committee was 
named to select a suitable lot on which to build. The 
only one available was a lot opposite the residence of 
Admiral John J. Reed. A price was set and terms 
accepted. Up to this point the presiding elder had 
opposed the undertaking, but without success. He 
now insisted a warranty deed be given and this, it 
seems, could not be done for some reason or other. 
This blocked further progress and the affair gradually 
simmered down. The legacy was lost to the church, 
of course, but a great deal of future trouble and ex- 
pense was thereby saved. 

Dr. Graw followed Samuel Vansant on the Bur- 
lington District, the latter becoming presiding elder 
of the Trenton District. Mr. Vansant made a model 
presiding elder, acceptably serving the New Bruns- 
wick, BurHngton and Trenton Districts. 

The presiding elder's report at the Conference of 
1 87 1 was very encouraging. Large revivals at Vin- 



92 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

centown (S. W. Lake, pastor), Port Republic (W. F. 
Randolph, pastor) and Absecon (S. F. Wheeler, pas- 
tor) had swelled the list of probationers on the Dis- 
trict to II 74, these three charges furnishing 385 of 
the number. For missions, $3165 had been raised on 
the District ; Conference claimants, $972.45 ; church 
extension, $297.50. At the Conference of 1872 Dr. 
Graw made his first report as presiding elder, from 
which we glean the following: Probationers, 864; 
missions, $3706; Conference claimants, $1089.60; 
church extension, $1083.29. 

The session of Conference in 1871 was held in the 
Broadway Church, Salem, March 15, and was pre- 
sided over by Bishop E. S. Janes. At this session 
Prof. Willson and Charles K. Landis addressed the 
Conference in the interests of the Vineland Seminary. 
A memorial from the citizens of Vineland was read 
by Prof. Willson and referred to the Committee on 
Education, of which Dr. Graw was a member. Per- 
mission was granted the Bricksburg church "to solicit 
aid in their embarrassment." Bricksburg (now Lake- 
wood) has had a wonderful transformation since then, 
for in 1870 it was as poor as the traditional church 
mouse. On Monday (the day of adjournment), a 
subscription was taken for Vineland Seminary, and 
pledges received to the amount of $5760, of which the 
ministers subscribed $5225. The balance needed to 
make up the desired $10,000 was to be apportioned 
to the districts by the presiding elders, ''they adopt- 
ing such measures as may be deemed expedient to 
raise the required amount." 

July 4, 1871, the cornerstone of the Port Republic 
church was laid, and the basement was formally ded- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 93 

icated July ii, 1872, the presiding elder, Dr. J. B. 
Graw, and Samuel Vansant officiating. The audi- 
ence room was dedicated by Bishop Matthew Simp- 
son in May, 1873. He was assisted in the services of 
the day by Rev. J. W. Jackson, of Philadelphia, Dr. 
J. B. Graw, Rev. W. W. Randolph and the pastor, 
Rev. John J. Graw, the presiding elder's brother. The 
Port Republic church is one of the oldest in the state, 
there being accounts of Methodist meetings in that 
locality dating back as far as 1796. 

When in 1872 J. B. Graw was first elected delegate 
to the General Conference he was 39 years of 
age, and what is quite as remarkable came very near 
to leading his delegation. The vote for General 
Conference delegates at the session of 1872 was as 
follows: First ballot — I. D. King, 108; J. B. Graw, 
104; second ballot — C. E. Hill, 94; third ballot — J. 
B. Dobbins, 88; A. E. Ballard, 86. 

The Conference of 1872 was presided over by Bish- 
op E. R. Ames. Dr. King was serving his eighth 
term as secretary and was soon to be succeeded in 
the office by Dr. G. B. Wight, whose tenure (nine- 
teen years) has never been equaled. The Vineland 
Seminary question caused a great deal of discussion 
at this session of the Conference, the debate ultimat- 
ing in the passage of a resolution offered by Dr. 
Thomas O'Hanlon. The committee on missions, of 
which Dr. Graw was secretary, reported in favor of 
Conference appropriations aggregating $2,200.00, 
the Trenton mission receiving the largest donation 
($200). 

There had been a considerable increase during 
the decade in the salaries paid pastors and presiding 



94 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

elders. The presiding elders now received salaries 
of $1800 on all the districts. State Street, Trenton, 
paid then as now, the highest salary, W. H. Pearne 
receiving $1800 in 1871. Greene Street paid $1400; 
Trinity, $1600; Central, $1500. In the intervening 
period Greene Street has taken first rank, Central has 
about held its own, and Trinity lost somewhat, ah 
though it is now on the up-grade. Centenary, Long 
Branch, was the highest salaried church on the New 
Brunswick District, paying $1500. Mount Holly 
paid $1300 and ranked all the other churches on the 
Burlington District, so far as salary was concerned. 
In fact it was number one in other important par- 
ticulars, notably the missionary collection, which was 
$714. This was the largest contribution given by 
any church in the Conference that year. 

John S. Heisler was at Third Street, Camden, and 
in receipt of a salary of $1500. D. H. Schock was at 
Centenary, Camden, and received $1560. These were 
the high salaried churches on the Camden District. 
Two churches on the Bridgeton District paid sal- 
aries of $1500, Broadway, Salem, Dr. G. K. Morris, 
and First Church, Millville, H. M. Brown, pastor. 

It was at this session of Conference that official 
mention was first made of the New Jersey State Tem- 
perance Alliance, which subsequently was to largely 
enter into the activities of the temperance workers. 

The General Conference of 1872 met in Brooklyn, 
May I to June 4, and the New Jersey Conference was 
represented by the following delegation : I. D. King, 
J. B. Graw, C. E. Hill, J. B. Dobbins, A. E. Ballard. 
Only two of the delegation (C E. Hill and A. E. Bal- 
lard) are now living. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 95 



CHAPTER XL 

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1872-BY REV. A. E. BALLARD, D.D* 

^^^\ R. GRAW made the first of an uninterrupted 
%T_/ series of memberships in the General Con- 
ferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in the session held in Brooklyn in 1872, with Rev. I. 
D. King as chairman of the delegation. 

He was its youngest member, but early in the ses- 
sion evinced so decided an abiHty for General Con- 
ference work, both in the broadness of conception and 
the modes of execution, as to place him early in the 
front of the positions naturally inhering in the dele- 
gation from the New Jersey Conference. His appear- 
ance while sprightly was grave, and added to the pre- 
cedence naturally accorded to his talent. 

In the varied and complicated matters which came 
before the delegations affiliating with our own on im- 
portant subjects, he was soon looked upon as a lead- 
er whose capabilities of adjustments were so far be- 

*Rev. A. E. Ballard, D.D., was born in Bloomfield, N. J., De- 
cember 25, 1820; converted in Franklin Street Church, Newark, Rev. 
D. W. Bartine, pastor, in 1840; licensed to preach at Parsippany in 
1843; admitted to the Conference at Mount Holly in 1844. Bergen (a 
part of Jersey City) was his first charge. He became identified 
with Ocean Grove in 1870 and Pitman Grove in 1871, and has been 
vice-president of the former association and president of the lat- 
ter for many years. He did much to build up temperance senti- 
ment throughout the state while vice-president of the State Tem- 
perance Alliance. He has served some of the largest churches in 
the Conference, been presiding elder of the Bridgeton District 
(1867-70) and New Brunswick District (1871-74), and was a delegate 
to the General Conference of 1872. 



96 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

yond the rest that their management was naturally 
accorded to him. Especially was this true in the elec- 
tion of editor of the Christian Advocate. The frank, 
stalwart, vigorous Dr. Curry was then in its chair, 
and a candidate for re-election. The outspokenness 
of his editorials and the fearlessness of their expres- 
sion, whether they regarded men or measures, had 
called down upon him a more than usual amount of 
opposition. There was a large contingent deter- 
mined upon his ousting who allowed themselves no 
rest in their efforts to accomplish it. But these qual- 
ities and facts which they condemned made him popu- 
lar with New Jersey. The boldness of the utterances 
and the vigor of their expression were counted in his 
favor here, and the delegation was made solid for 
him, as were also the affiliated deleg"ations. In the 
earHer days of the session many were pleased with 
Dr. Curry, but for some special reasons would like 
to vote for some candidate for whom there was no 
possibility of election in order that his name might 
be brought forward and continued there in the possi- 
ble contingency of an impossibility of election in the 
case of the more popular candidates, when they might 
be a "compromise" and step into the vacant chair. 
Among these was Rev. Dr. I. T. Crane, whose ability 
was unquestioned, but whose election was not pro- 
bable. In the final settlement of the position of the 
delegation they all fell in line with the abandonment 
of their personal favorites, and acceptance of Dr. 
Crane for the first vote and afterward for Dr. Curry. 
In the manipulation of the varied adjustments neces- 
sary for this, Dr. Graw displayed a power of com- 
bination which in all his future as General Conference 




MRS. ISABELLA S. GRAW. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 9^7 

member, presiding elder, trustee of Conference pro- 
perties or pastor, made him so eminently successful 
in all these relations to the church. 

As a speaker in the general committee he had the 
wisdom never to say anything until he knew it was 
the right thing to be said — and said at that particular 
time, and said in the tersest language, and exactest 
logic. This he quickly perceived and was conse- 
quently listened to with special attention whenever 
he spoke either in favor or in opposition to a measure. 

Among the other matters of importance which 
came before that body in which Dr. Graw took a 
peculiar interest, was the election of Rev. I. VV. Wiley 
to the episcopate, in which the New Jersey contin- 
gent took a lively and specially animated interest. 
Dr. Wiley was a member of the Newark Conference, 
which still considered itself practically a part of New 
Jersey, and Dr. Wiley was the unquestioned choice 
of the Newark brethren. The New Jersey Methodists 
claimed him for their own in virtue of his aforetime 
presidency of Pennington Seminary, in which capac- 
ity he had been so completely successful, and in which 
Dr. Graw was deeply interested. The great abilities 
of Dr. Wiley naturally secured the general sentiment 
of appropriateness for the place, and there was little 
expectation of any opposition. His editorship of the 
Ladies'^Periodical in the west in its midway place be- 
tween the elegancies of Methodist Hterature in the 
present and severe plainness in the past, had been re- 
markably felicitous and ensured him the appreciation 
of that section. His sacrifice of a magnificent future 
in this country in his profession of medicine, together 
with the broad foundations which that sacrifice had 



98 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

given to the missionary work in China, entitled him 
to a large recognition from the class of minds that 
were planning grandly the Methodistic future in the 
countries of the eastern hemisphere. There did not 
seem any question as to his election on the first bal- 
lot. But when that ballot was counted, although he 
made an excellent showing he was not elected. 
There were no influences at work positively against 
him, but there were other favorites of sections who 
were holding them in fellowship with the favorites of 
other sections, in the hope that in some special turn 
of the wheel the coveted office would come to them. 
Among the specialties on this line was the case of Dr. 
Jesse T. Peck, who had not so far forged greatly to 
the front, but who had made a speech in favor of some 
favorite position of the colored delegates in language 
of such passionate appeal that, while there seemed 
but little likelihood of eventual success, these colored 
delegates were pathetically desirous of his election. 
Besides this, no episcopal candidate was exactly will- 
ing to live on the California coast, and Dr. Peck ex- 
pressed his willingness to reside there. Dr. Graw, in 
his ardent sympathy with the advancing issues of the 
emancipated race, a sympathy he had earned in tak- 
ing his place in the ^'battle cry of freedom," believed 
warmly in the election of a man pledged to their in- 
terests. His ready mind was quick to grasp the situa- 
tion and see that if he could isolate Drs. Wiley and 
Peck from the entanglements and make them one, 
success was in sight. He arranged a union of senti- 
ment in the New Jersey and Newark delegations, 
and with them in front of the movement, with others. 
He became the intermediary between these and those 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 99 

who were supporters of Dr. Peck. He did not com- 
mit the blunder of bringing both before the Confer- 
ence for a decisive battle at one time. The first ef- 
fort was to be made for Dr. Wiley, with an open 
pledge that if the others came out and elected him it 
would be clear proof that they were able to elect 
whom they pleased, and they would afterwards elect 
Dr. Peck. If all who so agreed so voted the election of 
Dr. Wiley was certain. If any failed Dr. Peck was 
also foredoomed to failure. Like a practiced general 
he held each division to its work in the contest. Dr. 
Wiley was elected and the success of Dr. Peck fol- 
lowed as a matter of course. 

In the other work of the Conference he took a full 
part and was a safe adviser. In the committee on the 
Book Concern whose business was to investigate 
charges of gross carelessness made by Dr. Lanahan 
against the agents in charge, in which the writer 
served, Dr. Graw took a large interest, and gave good 
practical advice. In all the toil of those eventful 
weeks he faithfully discharged the duties of his posi- 
tion and so educated himself in General Conference 
work that he naturally became in almost every Gen- 
eral Conference which followed the trusted leader of 
his delegation. 



L.o^O. 



100 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XII. 

TRIP TO ENGLAND— GOOD TEMPLAR WORK. 

^^^HE Conference of 1873 was held in Trinity 
^L, Church, Bridgeton, March 13. This was the 
last session of the New Jersey Conference 
presided over by Bishop Scott, and it was Dr. King's 
last year as secretary of the Conference, he having 
held that responsible office for nine consecutive years. 
Failing health caused Dr. King's retirement from 
active work at this session of the Conference. 

The Vineland Seminary question was again up for 
consideration, and the statement was made : That the 
total expenditures to date had been $27,000; actual 
existing debt, $16,200. The presiding elders were 
requested to apportion the amounts needed to the 
various charges, and Dr. G. F. Brown was made ''Fi- 
nancial Counselor of the Vineland Seminary." 

The minutes of 1873 contain the obituary of Rev. 
Rulifif V. Lawrence, one of the most successful soul- 
winners the world has known. Mr. Lawrence was 
converted under the preaching of Rev. Wm. C. 
Stockton, at Farmingdale in 1852, and shortly after- 
wards entered the ministry. After a brief but effec- 
tive ministry, he passed to his reward July i, 1872. 

The Conference of 1874 was held in Third Street 
Church, Camden, Bishop Ames presiding. This was 
the last time the bishop was to preside over the New 
Jersey Conference. George B. Wight was first 
elected secretary of the Conference at this session, 



REV. J. B. QRAW, D.D. loi 

and was continuously re-elected until 1892. J. H. 
Payran, the present secretary, was one of his assis- 
tants in 1874. 

In 1875 the Conference was held in Pitman 
Church, New Brunswick, Bishop Simpson presiding. 
The death of Dr. I. D. King, which occurred July 
28, 1874, was reported at this session of the Con- 
ference. 

During the preceding sessions of the Conference a 
great deal of attention had been paid to the temper- 
ance question, and committees had been appointed 
from time to time to wait on the legislature in advo- 
cacy of measures then pending. It was voted to send 
five delegates to represent the Conference at the Na- 
tional Temperance Convention, to be held in Cleve- 
land, Ohio, June, 1875, and these were selected: G. 
R. Snyder, J. H. Payran, Thos. Sovereign, W. W. 
Christine and G. K. Morris. Milton Relyea was 
transferred from the New Jersey Conference to the 
Newark Conference, at this session, and W. C. Stock- 
ton was appointed ''Conference missionary." The 
Vineland Seminary was dropped at the Conference 
of 1875, ^i^<i this left preachers and people free to 
devote their energies to the advancement of Pen- 
nington Seminary. 

The report of the Committee on Temperance this 
year declares that "The use of, and traffic in, intoxi- 
cating beverages is an evil of such magnitude as to 
call for the most persistent opposition of all Chris- 
tians and philanthropists," and "That as a Confer- 
ence we will continue to preach, pray and vote 
against this iniquity." 

At this session of the Conference Dr. Graw con- 



102 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

eluded his labors as presiding elder of the Burling- 
ton District, and was appointed to the New Bruns- 
wick District. Dr. O'Hanlon was on the Trenton Dis- 
trict then, S. E. Post on the Burlington District, 
Dr. Whitecar on the Camden District, and Dr. Heis- 
ler on the Bridgeton District. 

Before considering Dr. Graw's labor as presiding 
elder of the New Brunswick District a brief summa- 
ry of his temperance work while residing at Mount 
Holly will be in order. In 1873 the New Jersey 
Good Templar was printed at Vineland, and edited by 
N. P. Potter, Dr. Graw being assistant editor and 
business manager. The Order of Good Templars 
was then in a flourishing condition, having lodges in 
many towns and cities throughout the state. In the 
issue of the New Jersey Good Templar of February 
20, 1873, there appears a State Lodge Directory, giv- 
ing the names and addresses of 177 lodges, the high- 
est number attached to the title of a lodge being 227. 
The state officers were then as follows. G. W. C. T., 
Rev. Geo. K. Morris, Salem; G. W. C., Barton 
Lowe, Camden; G. W. V. T., Emily J. Cressy, Green- 
ville ; G. W. S., John Simpson, Pitman Grove ; G. W. 
A. S., George S. Courter, Jamesburg; G. W. T., Jas. 
Stevenson, Jersey City; G. W. Chap., Rev. B. S. 
Everett, Jamesburg; G. W. M., Wm. Johnson, Lam- 
bertville; G. W. D. M., Mary A. Earling, Crosswicks; 
G. Guard, Charlotte M. Wait, Jersey City; G. Sent., 
Henry Zwahlen, Jersey City; G. Mess., J. Harned 
Morris, Camden; P. G. W. C. T., Rev. J. B. Graw, 
Mount Holly. 

Dr. Graw, Rev. R. B. Yard and Barton Lowe were 
elected representatives from New Jersey to attend 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 103 

the R. W. G. L. at the session to be held in London, 
Eng., in July, 1873. Dr. George K. Morris, who 
was then G. W. C. T., also attended this session of the 
R. W. G. L. and contributes the following article de- 
scriptive of the trip : 

THE TRIP TO ENGLAND— By REV. GEO. K. MORRIS. D.D., LX.D. 

Dr. J. B. Graw was one of the party of Good Tem- 
plars who sailed by Steamer Virginia, State Line, 
June 25, 1873, for Glasgow. At the Madison, Wis- 
consin, meeting of the World's Grand Lodge of Good 
Templars, held May, 1872, Jos. Malins, G. W. C. of 
the British Lodge, had presented a cordial invitation 
from our earnest brethren across the Atlantic to hold 
the next Annual Meeting in London. There was 
strong opposition to the proposed visit. The New 
Jersey members, of whom Dr. Graw was one, favored 
the acceptance of the invitation. After much discus- 
sion it was voted to meet in London. Many desired 
to secure the opportunity to go by being elected a 
representative. The organization was very strong 
at that time and paid the expenses of its representa- 
tives to the annual meeting of the national body. At 
the following meeting of the New Jersey Grand 
Lodge, Dr. Graw was easily elected as one of the 
representatives. He was very popular with the mem- 
bers and was rapidly coming to the front as a leader 
among them. The body had been managed and in a 
way controlled by others, some of whom were natur- 
ally disposed to prevent the rise of their powerful rival. 
Some combinations were the result, but the doctor 
soon became the recognized head of what was at that 
time a powerful organization. 



104 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

At this meeting the writer was elected the G. W. 
C. T. or official head of the organization for the state 
and decided in that capacity to attend the interna- 
tional assemblage the next year in London in re- 
sponse to an urgent personal invitation from the 
English brethren. 

The good steamer Virginia, then new, commanded 
by Captain Sadler, sailed from Brooklyn at about 
six in the evening of a beautiful day. It may be 
mentioned as a matter of interest that the steamer on 
which our party sailed was afterward lost at sea, and, 
also, that Captain Sadler when in command of a larg- 
er vessel had the misfortune to run her on the rocks. 
He saw all others saved, but refused to leave his ship, 
and went down with her, tolling his own funeral 
knell, till the waters closed over him. 

Nearly all the American and Canadian representa- 
tives were of the party that sailed by the Virginia, and 
there were many men and women of note among 
them. Dr. Graw was one of the younger leaders in 
the temperance reform, but it could already be seen 
that he possessed those qualities which later made 
him remarkable as a leader in the great church in 
whose service he spent his Hfe. 

During the voyage he did not obtrude himself in 
any way upon the notice of strangers, but his friends 
discerned that he was closely observing his traveling 
companions, and was busy in forming plans for the 
great work to be done at London. 

We reached Glasgow at ii A. M., July 7. Our 
arrival was expected and a vast crowd had assembled 
at the dock to greet the visitors. Our British cous- 
ins never do anything by halves. Some, impatient of 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 105 

delay, had walked a long way down the Clyde to 
meet the steamer. It was interesting to see them 
running to keep pace with the ship as it drew near the 
dock. A large committee of gentlemen had been 
provided to receive the Americans. Carriages were 
awaiting us. One member of the committee was put 
into each carriage to explain the points of interest. 
There was a great meeting at night, where speeches 
of welcome were made with a sincerity and warmth 
most enjo3^able. 

The Committee of Arrangements had divided the 
Americans into groups of six or eight and arranged 
meetings to be addressed by them in a number oi 
towns in Scotland and England on the way to Lon- 
don. Dr. Graw was assigned to speak at the meet- 
ings to be held Friday, July nth at Kilmarnock, and 
those at Galashiels on Saturday and Sunday, 12th 
and 13th July. The international body held its meet- 
ings in the Royal Amphitheatre, Hollow, London, 
commencing July 22d. The meetings were of the 
greatest interest, and at some of them the excite- 
ment ran very high. While Dr. Graw comported 
himself with modest dignity, he made himself felt in 
the doings of the body, and was one of the few whose 
genius for managing a deliberative body made their 
power felt. 

This experience was of great value to Dr. Graw. 
He was a keen student of men, and as he met strong 
men in the fierce conflicts that are sure to rise in all 
great assemblages he got an insight into character 
that helped him ever after as a leader in his beloved 
church. As he measured his own hitherto scarcely 
awakened powers on the broader arena of an inter- 



io6 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

national gathering he became aware of himself. 
Hence his natural tendency to hesitate in aggressive 
action was modified by a growing confidence in him- 
self which in after years, in more than one emergen- 
cy, stood him in good stead. There can be no doubt 
that his subsequent rise to eminence was in a large 
measure due to the development resulting from this 
visit to the world's metropolis. 



When Dr. Graw finished one of his terms as G. W. 
C. T. he was presented with a handsome gold watch, 
bearing this inscription : 

"Presented to Rev. J. B. Graw, D.D., by the Grand 
Lodge of New Jersey, I. O. G. T., October 15, 1874." 

The doctor carried this watch until 1880, when, on 
the completion of his pastorate at Third Street 
Church, Camden, he was presented with a gold watch 
by that church which he carried to the end of life. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 107 



CHAPTER XIII. 

NEW BRUNSWICK DISTRICT— 1875-1877. 

/f^k N assuming the presiding eldership of the New 
L\\J Brunswick District, Dr. Graw moved to 
Toms River and rented a house on Washing- 
ton street. The same year Geo. H. Neal became 
pastor of the Toms River church. At that time the 
pews were rented, the rentals for the current year ag- 
gregating over $900. 

George M. Joy was then editor of the Toms River 
Courier and his paper was very friendly to the Meth- 
odists. From time to time local correspondence 
was pubHshed that showed Dr. Graw was as active in 
his district work as ever. On many occasions he 
gave his lecture, "Rambles in the British Isles," for 
the benefit of local churches, freely donating the pro- 
ceeds to aid in their work. The Bayville correspon- 
dent had this in the issue of September i6, 1875 : "Dr. 
Graw preached for the first time in Dover Chapel, 
Sunday. Few people knew of his coming or else 
the chapel would have been crammed from basement 
to dome. We hope he will favor us again, for our 
people are anxious to hear him." 

The Courier paid its respects to a temperance 
gathering at Trenton, September 30, 1875, as follows : 
"A temperance convention was held at Trenton on 
Wednesday of last week under the auspices of Jeru- 
salem Freeze, in the interests of the Democratic par- 



io8 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ty, judging from the tenor of the resolutions that 
were passed. Nearly 50 persons were present." 

On October 21, 1875, the announcement was made 
that "Dr. J. B. Graw had again been elected to the 
office of G. W. C. T. of the Grand Lodge of N. J." 
In December Dr. Graw lectured at Cassville for the 
benefit of the Sunday school, the proceeds being 
used to purchase Christmas gifts and candies for the 
children. The Forked River correspondent wrote 
February 27, 1876: "Dr. Graw preached on Sabbath 
A. M., from Flab. 12:1. Seldom has it been our lot 
to hear a more spiritual discourse and one more cal- 
culated to estabhsh the listeners in the fullness of the 
Christian faith." 

During the first year of his presiding eldership Dr. 
Graw lectured for Thomas S. Wilson at Farmingdale, 
and for Ezra B. Lake at Bricksburg (now Lake- 
wood). In the seventies Bricksburg was in a de- 
plorable financial condition, but Ezra Lake was the 
man for an emergency which called for the exercise 
of faith and the hardest kind of toil. On August 8, 
1875, the church at Bricksburg was dedicated, Revs. 
J. Lavelle, J. E. Lake and Dr. Graw participating in 
the services. Over $2000 were raised in cash and 
pledges, sufficient to cover the entire debt. 

Editor Joy relished the good things of life, and 
when Dr. Graw sent him some fine specimens of 
peaches from his farm, he hastened to return thanks 
in the editorial columns. 

The Baptist Sea Side Park Association filed articles 
of incorporation in the county clerk's office. Ocean 
county, September 9, 1875. This resort has had a 
checkered career, first being under Baptist auspices, 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 109 

then practically abandoned for a long while, until it 
came under control of a company composed of Cam- 
den and Philadelphia capitalists, since which it has 
progressed steadily. The establishment of this re- 
sort undoubtedly suggested the formation of a com- 
pany, three years later, to build a camp meeting re- 
sort on the north banks of Toms river, to be known 
as Island Heights. 

The Courier of May 13, 1875, says: ''On Wednes- 
day evening of last week the Methodist Church of 
Toms River was filled with a large and attentive au- 
dience to Hsten to Dr. Graw's lecture on his 'Ram- 
bles in the British Isles.' The lecture was very in- 
structive and entertaining, and for an hour and fifty 
minutes the speaker held his congregation in closest 
attention. The lecture commenced with the passage 
through the 'Narrows,' landing in the north of Ire- 
land, a fine description of that rich and fertile land. 
Giant's Causeway, also up the Clyde, to the cities ot 
Glasgow and Edinboro, Stirling and Dunbarton Cas- 
tle. Some amusing adventures of the doctor's among 
the Scotch Presbyterians, visit to London, the Crypt 
of Yorkminster, a locality of great interest to Free- 
masons, crossing into Normandy, and a visit to Paris, 
together with his return home. It was richly worth 
the price charged for the entertainment. The pro- 
ceeds of the lecture were handed over to the trustees. 
They desire us to tender their thanks to Dr. Graw 
for his timely aid." 

"The Templar and Gazette, the New Jersey tem- 
perance paper, published every Saturday and in its 
ninth volume, has been removed to Toms River, 
where it will hereafter be published under the direc- 



no LIFE AND TIMES OF 

tion of Dr. Graw, who is the G. W. C. T. of the state/' 
The preceding paragraph is taken from the Courier 
of March 9, 1875. On August 17, 1876, the Cour- 
ier said : "The New Jersey Temperance Gazette made 
its appearance last Saturday with a new engraved 
head by Scattergood. Ably edited by Dr. Graw it 
deserves a liberal patronage. The New Jersey Good 
Templar has been absorbed by the Gazette." 

Harmony Lodge of Good Templars, at Toms Riv- 
er, was re-organized by Dr. Graw in 1875. 

A temperance meeting at Tuckerton held Novem- 
ber 14, 1876, was addressed by a number of speakers, 
Rev. John Simpson arguing for independent politi- 
cal action, and Dr. Graw taking the opposite side, de- 
claring the question to be moral rather than political. 
It was a short time after this that Dr. Graw changed 
his views on this subject, and likewise his politics. 

Dr. Graw did not long retain his residence in the 
village of Toms River, but moved to his farm about 
two miles distant, where he spent the remainder of 
his term on the New Brunswick District. His broth- 
er. Rev. John J. Graw, had a farm adjoining, and this 
made it very pleasant for both families. A man was 
employed to work on the farm under Dr. Graw's su- 
pervision and he soon brought the land into a high 
condition of fertility, but there was little profit in 
farming land that had to be fertilized so liberally. The 
chief gain was in the improved health of the family 
and in the seclusion from the temptations of city life. 
Two things happened while the family was living on 
the farm — the Colorado potato beetle and the Cen- 
tennial, named in order of their importance as viewed 
from the standpoint of a youthful albeit unwilling ex- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. in 

terminator of the unbidden guest from the far west. 
The Centennial was soon disposed of — a week's visit 
sufficing; but not so the potato bug. One of the 
favorite methods of disposing of them was to gather 
the bugs into a barrel, pour oil on the mass and set it 
on fire. This effectually disposed of the bugs in the 
barrel, but it usually consumed enough time to per- 
mit of the appearance of a new crop of bugs on the 
vines — from somewhere. 

Farm life was not child's play in those days, for 
there were comparatively few of the modern appli- 
ances which now make the life of the agriculturist 
more pleasant. Yet there were undeniable pleasures 
in plenty, and chances for mental improvement dur- 
ing the winter night hours which were not unim- 
proved. 

Dr. Graw leased the salt hay meadows opposite 
where Island Heights now stands, in the summer of 
1877, and he occasionally rode down with his farm- 
er to inspect the crop. While standing on the south 
bank of the river he was impressed with the bold and 
picturesque beauty of the bluffs on the opposite side 
of the stream. Here he received the first sugges- 
tions which culminated in the inception of the resort 
known as Island Heights. While at Long Branch 
he had carefully studied Ocean Grove, which was 
then about beginning its marvelous growth. Dr. 
Stokes had been his presiding elder, was a warm per- 
sonal friend, and was also a radical temperance man. 
The tastes of the two men were congenial. Dr. 
Graw did not undertake to establish a second Ocean 
Grove. That was impossible then, and now ; but he 
did undertake to build up a Christian family resort 



112 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

under temperance influences, with the camp meeting 
as a special feature. It is not impossible to estab- 
lish a family resort under Christian influences, but it 
is a difflcult matter to run a camp meeting at a re- 
sort where the best of fishing, sailing and boating are 
obtainable, and where smooth waters and land- 
locked harbors make yachting a fascinating pleasure. 
A noted Methodist clergyman, on being reproved for 
going fishing while camp meeting services were in 
progress said : "Can't help it ; when the fish bite the 
way they do now, I must go." The allurements of 
nature were too strong to be withstood by the pleas- 
ure seekers, and so the camp meetings had to suffer. 
But who can tell the vast amount of good indirectly 
done, in furnishing a Christian resort where tired and 
overworked men and women could recuperate with- 
out coming in contact with the evil influences that 
surround many of the summer homes at the seashore? 
Rev. John Simpson, of Island Heights, has furn- 
ished the following brief sketch of the resort : 

ISLAND HEIGHTS. 

Rev. J. B. Graw, while presiding elder on the New 
Brunswick District, in the summer of 1877, having 
business on the south side of Toms River, looking 
across at the north shore, was impressed with the 
thought that it would be a good location for a camp 
meeting and summer resort. Afterward, in examin- 
ing the property, his thought was intensified. He 
then enlisted the co-operation of Rev. Samuel Van- 
sant, then presiding elder on the Trenton District, 
Rev. Geo. K. Morris, Rev. Geo. B. Wight, Rev. D. 
H. Schock, Rev. Robert Givin, Rev. A. Lawrence, 




M. T 



■ >>%. 





REV. J. B. GRIAW, D.D. US 

Rev. C. E. Hill, Rev. John Wagg, Rev. W. H. Hoag, 
Rev. Geo. Reed, Rev. A. E. Ballard, Rev. Geo. H. 
Neal, Rev. Wm. Pittenger, and a number of laymen 
and prominent business men of Philadelphia, Cam- 
den, Trenton, Mt. Holly and Toms River. These 
parties were then incorporated with the corporate 
title of "Island Heights Association." Rev. J. B. 
Graw was elected president, which position he re- 
tained until a few months of his death ; Rev. Geo. K. 
Morris, secretary; Rev. Samuel Vansant, treasurer, 
and these officers, with James G. Gowdy and Ralph 
B. Gowdy, of Toms River, constituted the Board of 
Directors. Ralph B. Gowdy soon resigned and Em- 
manuel H. Wilkes, of Toms River, took his place in 
the Board. Other changes soon occurred, and Rev. 
D. H. Schock became secretary, and Melbourne F. 
Middleton treasurer. Afterward Rev. Geo. Reed 
became secretary, and again Rev. D. H. Schock be- 
came secretary, which position he held until a few 
months ago, when he resigned, as did Dr. Middleton 
as treasurer, and the Board was reorganized with en- 
tirely new men. 

The title to the property was dated July i, 1878, 
and the first camp meeting was advertised for August 
13th. During these six weeks under the direction 
of Rev. John Simpson, who was called to the posi- 
tion of superintendent, streets were graded, an ofHce 
building and a large restaurant building (now the 
Island House), were erected; the camp ground ar- 
ranged and seated, and the camp meeting began on 
time under the direction of Rev. Samuel Vansant, 
then presiding elder of the district. On the first 
Sunday afternoon of the campmeeting. Dr. Thomas 

8 



ii6 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

O'Hanlon of Pennington Seminary preached a nota- 
ble sermon on the subject of skepticism. At the close 
of the service a prominent business man, somewhat 
skeptical, said to Dr.Graw, ''I wonder if there was any 
other man but me, in the congregation, whom that 
sermon fitted." The camp meeting was continued 
by Island Heights Association for a number of years, 
during- which many of the strong men of pulpit fame 
preached. 

Several years ago the Association turned the camp 
meeting over to the local church, who have continued 
meetings since that time, in charge of the pastors of 
the church. 

At the close of the camp meeting in 1878 a very 
successful lot sale was held, followed by another a 
month later, and the success of the enterprise was as- 
sured. Later the charter was amended, additional 
stock was sold and several new men came into the 
Association. In June, 1886, a dividend sale was 
held, stockholders bidding for choice, and thus all 
the unsold lots became the property of individual 
stockholders and the Association continued but a 
nominal existence. 

In the fall of 1878 President J. B. Graw, with the 
sanction of Elder Samuel Vansant, requested Super- 
intendent Rev. John Simpson to organize a Sunday 
school and preach once each Sunday, in the after- 
noon, which he did. In the fall of 1880 Elder Van- 
sant placed Island Heights under the pastoral care of 
Rev. Geo. C. Stanger, pastor of the church at Toms 
River, who preached once each month ; the interven- 
ing Sundays still being filled by the Superintendent. 
At the Conference in March, 1882, Island Heights 



REV. J. B. GRJAW, D.D. 117 

became part of Cedar Grove Circuit, with Rev. John 
Simpson in charge as pastor, who continued until the 
following annual Conference, when Island Heights 
became a separate charge and Rev. J. E. Sawn was 
appointed pastor. 

The fortieth session of the New Jersey Conference 
was held at Mount Holly, beginning March 29, 1876. 
Bishop Isaac W. Wiley presided at this session for 
the first time. He again presided at the session of 
188.3, and these were the only of^cial visits he made 
the Conference. 

Dr. Graw received 83 votes for delegate to Gener- 
al Conference, on the first ballot, and was elected. The 
second ballot resulted in the election of Enoch Green 
by a vote of 115. On the fourth ballot Dr. O'Hanlon 
and C. W. Heisley were elected by votes of 82 and 69 
respectively. 

Bishop J. T. Peck was the presiding bishop at the 
session of the Conference held in Greene Street 
Church, Trenton, March 14, 1877. At this session a 
collection of $12,000 was taken towards liquidating 
the debt on Pennington Seminary. 

Bishop Simpson again visited the Conference to 
preside over its deliberations in 1878. Conference 
was held in the Broad Street Church, Burlington, 
that year, beginning March 13. The presiding elders' 
reports were pubHshed in the Conference Minutes for 
the first time this year. Dr. Graw was a member of 
the committee to confer with a similar committee of 
Philadelphia Conference in regard to Pennington 
Seminary. His report at this Conference as presid- 
ing elder has many interesting incidents. Point 



ii8 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Pleasant had a revival in which more than lOO souls 
v^ere converted. Bricksburg church was in sore 
straits, owing to the closing down of the shops which 
left the people without employment. The church 
was in the sheriff's hands, but steps had been taken to 
rescue it. At Manahawkin, George S. Sykes, pastor, 
a vessel had been driven ashore. The trustees bought 
the spars for $20, sawed them up, and built a parson- 
age with the material. The probationers on the New 
Brunswick District aggregated 900. In summariz- 
ing Dr. Graw said : "There are 48 appointments on 
the District. I have held 185 Quarterly Conferences, 
missing only 7; have attended 58 quarterly love 
feasts; have preached 240 sermons, dedicated one 
church, laid one cornerstone, helped at five special fi- 
nancial efforts and have delivered eighteen lectures 
and addresses in aid of churches at various points on 
the District." 

Dr. Graw served three years only on the New 
Brunswick District, his next appointment being 
Third Street Church, Camden. 

The three pleasant years spent at Toms River re- 
sulted in the formation of many friendships, in and 
out of the church. Samuel C. Jennings, who suc- 
ceeded George M. Joy as editor of the Courier, was a 
genial friend whose worth was not always fully appre- 
ciated. John A. Aumack, James G. Gowdy, Judge 
James, Stephen Irons, E. W. Snyder, Thos. W. Mid- 
dleton and others were prominent in the community 
or the church. Nearly a quarter of a century has 
passed since the days of Dr. Graw's sojourn at Toms 
River, and few of the older men and women are liv- 
ing, a new generation having taken their place. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 119 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1876— By REV. THOMAS O'HAN- 
LON, LL. D.* 

^\^T% ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ General Confer- 
^J JLIm ence delegates was taken at the Annual 
Conference held in Mount Holly, in the 
spring of 1876, only one man — Dr. J. B. Graw — was 
elected. Enoch Green was elected on the second 
ballot, and the writer and C. W. Heisley on the 
fourth. Dr. Kidder and D. H. Schock were the cler- 
ical reserves. The laymen were represented by W. 
H. Bodine and C. E. Hendrickson, regulars, and W. 
S. Yard and G. D. Horner as reserves. 

Dr. Graw, more than any other man, was the leader 
of the New Jersey Conference for the last twenty-five 
years of his life. He knew the preachers and all the 
churches better than any other man, hence his coun- 

*Rev. Dr. O'Hanlon is in his seventieth year, and was born in 
New Torli City; converted in his fourteenth year wiiile living at 
Farmingdale; licensed to preach in 1852 by Rev. John K. Shaw; 
entered the New Jersey Conference in 1853, and was stationed at 
Mount Zion. While stationed at Long--a-coming (Berlin) in 1868, 
he had a remarkable revival, the second largest in the history of 
the Conference. He was at State Street, Trenton, 1865-66; was 
president of Pennington Seminary from 1867 to 1872. Then he 
served Greene Street, Trenton, two years (1873-74), was presiding 
elder of Trenton District in 1875, and since 1876 has been president 
of Pennington Seminary. His work at Pennington Seminary has 
been remarkable in many respects, and has resulted in bringing 
the Seminary to the front rank of high-grade institutions of learn- 
ing. Dr. O'Hanlon was a delegate to the General Conferences of 
^876 and 1892. 



120 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

sel was of great value to the bishops concerning the 
work of the New Jersey Annual Conference. If he 
was consulted more than any other man by the bish- 
ops of our church it was because, that by his wide and 
accurate knowledge of our preachers and our 
churches, he was better able to give advice than any 
other man. He was the leader of the Conference all 
these years, and was a delegate to the General Con- 
ference for eight consecutive quadrenniums, begin- 
ning at the General Conference of 1872 and closing 
with the General Conference of 1900. At five of 
these Conferences out of the eight, he was the leader 
of his delegation. 

From the first, he attracted attention on the floor 
of the General Conference. I remember him especial- 
ly at the General Conference of 1876 which was held 
in the city of Baltimore. He was then 44 years old, 
in the strength of his manhood. Physically he was 
the very image of strength and agility ; well propor- 
tioned, quick and energetic in all his movements. I 
remember one occasion at that Conference when he 
sprang to his feet to reply to a very vigorous speech 
made by Dr. A. J. Kynett, who had made a plea to 
make it obligatory on the preachers to report their 
Church Extension collections the same as the Discip- 
line required them to do as to the missionary collec- 
tions. Dr. Graw was on his feet in an instant, pro- 
testing against any such rule; that it was belittling 
the manhood of the preachers and was a species of 
ecclesiastical tyranny against which he would protest 
even to the last. His speech produced great effect. 
He carried the General Conference with him, and the 
proposition of the distinguished secretary of the 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 121 

Church Extension Society was defeated by an over- 
whelming majority. 

Dr. Graw was really a great debater without the 
forms of logic which, in some instances, make an ar- 
gument strong. From his great knowledge of 
human nature and from the manner in which he 
would present facts, as well as his direct manner of 
address and the tremendous energy with which he 
would speak, Dr. Graw would always impress the 
Annual Conference or the General Conference. At 
no General Conference in all his history did he 
appear so conspicuous or to so great an advantage as 
at the late General Conference, and then it was char- 
acteristic of Dr. Graw in dealing his hardest blows 
against his opponents in debate never to lose his feel- 
ings of brotherly kindness for them. I have some- 
times thought that he would put himself more out of 
his way to show a kindness to his foes, than he would 
to his friends. 

It was this rare characteristic that assured to him 
his large following in the Annual Conference. Many 
of his brethren who differed radically from him in 
church policy would always vote for him as their rep- 
resentative to the General Conference, for they were 
sure of his ability to represent them in a creditable 
manner before that great body, and they were also 
sure of his fidelity to our doctrine and to our church 
government. 

Dr. Graw served on the Committee on Episcopacy 
at the General Conference of 1876, and was also one 
of the two fraternal delegates to the General Assem- 
bly of the Presbyterian Church. The formal report 
of the delegates was as follows : 



122 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

"Fathers and Brethren: — We hereby report the 
performance of the trust committed to us in being 
charged to convey the Christian salutations of the 
General Conference to the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church. The reception awarded us and 
our message was generous and brotherly, and the 
official mingling of Arminian and Predestinarian, not 
in the arena of stern controversy, but in the fellowship 
of brotherly words, was a spectacle not without its 
value and interest. The Assembly appointed one of 
its members. Prof. F. L. Patton, D.D., of Chicago, 
to convey to the General Conference an expression 
of its fraternal regards. We trust that interchange 
of brotherly words between the two churches, so 
widely differing in faith and church order, may go 
forward with ever-increasing interest. 

S. H. Nesbitt, 
J. B. Graw." 

The following resolution was offered by Dr. Graw 
and referred to the Committee on Revisals : "Re- 
solved, That the Committee on Itinerancy be in- 
structed to inquire into the expediency of changing 
the Discipline, paragraph 219, third line, page 64, so 
as to read two years successively instead of three 
years successively." 

Dr. Graw introduced several other resolutions and 
with the other members of the New Jersey delega- 
tion exerted an influence in the deliberations of the 
sessions. 




OLD THIRD STREET CHURCH. CAMDEN. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 123 



CHAPTER XV. 

THIRD STREET CHURCH— 1878-1880. 

<y] YtTf HEN Dr. Graw became pastor of Third 
LJ jLIJ Street Church, Camden, in 1878, he was 
in his 46th year, and in the prime of life. 
He at once entered on the work of his charge with 
energy and persistence. If a preacher is so incHned, 
the presiding eldership can be made an easy ofHce, 
so far as pulpit ministrations are concerned. In 
the regular pastorate two new sermons each Sunday 
are required, unless the pastor be guilty of plagiarism 
or repeating, either of which is perilous to his reputa- 
tion. But the presiding elder who wants to work up 
old sermons can do so without fear of detection, if he 
uses care in posting his memorandum book. Dr. 
Graw was always a student, and believed in hard 
study as one of the prime requisites for success. The 
change from the eldership to the pastorate of one of 
the most influential churches in the Conference did 
not lessen his work so much as it gave him new 
phases and forms of mental and spiritual efifort to en- 
gage his energies. 

His opposition to the liquor traffic began when he 
was a lad only seven years of age. At that time he 
was living on the farm near Rahway and was early 
impressed with the cruel wrongs and crimes traceable 
to the infernal traffic in intoxicants. This hatred of 
drink became still further intensified by what he wit- 
nessed during the time he was in the army. Drink- 



124 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ing among army officers was common in 1861 and 
1862. Untried men who had suddenly been Ufted to 
positions of responsibility and trust were unequal to 
the demands of the situation and this class not infre- 
quently sought surcease from their sorrows in drink. 
An officer whom Dr. Graw was largely instrumental 
in deposing sought his life on more than one occas- 
ion. At several of his appointments his outspoken 
hostility to the saloon created antagonisms that made 
the preacher's life more or less uncomfortable at 
times. As editor of the New Jersey Good Templar 
and Temperance Gazette, which subsequently be- 
came the New Jersey Temperance Gazette, and still 
later the New Jersey Gazette, he criticised men and 
measures with the utmost freedom and candor. Now, 
politicians who are secretly engaged in furthering 
the schemes of the liquor men hate nothing so much 
as pubhcity. They want to be let alone. The editor 
spared none, and so incurred the ill-will of those 
whom he had exposed. His opposition to the candi- 
dacy of a well-known liquor man caused a libel suit, 
which resulted in Dr. Graw's favor. If the purpose 
of the suit was to intimidate the doctor from further 
agitation it was a distinct failure, for it seemed to 
make him more active and determined than ever. 

The temperance movement began to assume ag- 
gressive phases at this period. Temperance men be- 
came restless under existing conditions and were in- 
sisting on positive action on the part of the legisla- 
ture. The contest was still for Prohibition, but most 
of the leaders had agreed to center all their energies 
on the local option measures then under favorable 
consideration. There was much temperance agita- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 125 

tion in Camden about the time Dr. Graw was first 
appointed to Third Street Church. 

Old Third Street was the "mother church," whose 
offspring had grown up around her and become 
prosperous and influential. We will give here a brief 
sketch of Methodism in Camden. 

It is difficult to determine when the Methodists 
began to hold services in Camden. The first class 
was organized in 1809, by Rev. Richard Sneath, who 
traveled Gloucester Circuit when all the state of New 
Jersey constituted part of the Philadelphia Confer- 
ence. The first leader was James Duer, and the first 
public services were held in an old academy at Sixth 
and Market streets. In November, 1809, a lot was 
purchased on northwest corner of Fourth and Feder- 
al streets, from Joshua Cooper, for the sum of $70, 
and in the early spring of 1810 a frame building 
30x30 feet and 19 feet high was begun, being dedi- 
cated in November of the same year by Rev. Joseph 
Totten, P. E. At this early date Camden was only 
an unpretentious village, without a Christian church, 
excepting the one above briefly described. The city 
was incorporated in 1828, and Camden county was 
formed in 1844. After the completion of the church 
the growth of Methodism was so rapid that in a few 
years one hundred members were reported, and in 
1818, to accommodate the large congregation, it be- 
came necessary to build side galleries. The congre- 
gations had so outgrown the small frame church a 
larger building became an absolute necessity, so that 
in 1834, with Rev. William Ganville, pastor, the old 
property was sold for $775. A lot was purchased, 
southwest corner Third and Taylor avenue, and a 



126 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

brick church, 45x55 feet, with side galleries, was 
erected. The church was dedicated December 14, 
1834, by Rev. Charles Pitman, D.D. Quite a con- 
siderable debt remained, which was entirely canceled, 
largely through the instrumentality of Rev. J. K. 
Shaw, P. E., and Rev. A. K. Street, pastor. Novem- 
ber 20, 1867, after thirty-three years of service, the 
building was totally destroyed by fire. This was a 
dark hour in the history of the church, but the mem- 
bership, headed by the heroic Rev. Chas. H. White- 
car, pastor, were equal to the emergency. A meet- 
ing was held on the evening of the day of the fire, 
when it was decided to proceed at once to erect a new 
church. The lot on the east side of Third street, ex- 
tending from Mickle street to Bridge avenue, was 
purchased, and a building, 58x106 feet, with galler- 
ies on three sides, was erected. The building com- 
mittee was S. S. E. Cowperthwait, James M. Cassa- 
dy, T. B. Atkinson, Morton Mills, and E. S. John- 
son. The lecture room was opened on December 30, 
1868, and the main audience room was dedicated by 
Bishop Simpson, September 2, 1869. This was al- 
ways said to be an ideal Methodist church. 

Of the official men who were in charge of the work 
of the church when Dr. Graw became pastor in 1878 
comparatively few remain. Capt. Roth was then in 
age and feebleness and nearing the end of life's long 
journey. Squire Cassady, whose affections were 
evenly divided between his church and Pitman Grove, 
was always a good friend of the pastor, whoever he 
might be. Daniel H. Erdman, a far-sighted business 
man whose chief delight was to serve the church, was 
a staunch and tried friend. Morton Mills, undemon- 



REV. J. B. GRIAW, D.D. 127 

strative, yet faithful, and David B. Brown, warm- 
hearted and emotional, were different types of men, 
but equally valuable to the church. Joshua Jefiferis, 
Geo. W. Steed, J. B. Heishon, James M. Peacock, 
Charles Wriggins, Jonathan Duffield, 'Tather" 
Thorney, Thomas B. Atkinson, John C. Ayers, the 
sexton, Ridgway Gaunt, Benjamin G. Ellenger, Rev. 
Wm. Wright, and Josiah Matlack, choir leader, were 
active in church or Sunday school work, and all have 
"since passed to their reward. Of those who were then 
active in church work there are a number who are 
now in First Church, Broadway, or elsewhere, still 
doing what they can to advance the cause of Christ. 
Among others are Robert W. Meves, James A. Cot- 
tingham, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Russell, now of Ocean 
City; Mrs. Josephine Dilks, Mrs. F. H. Carr, Miss 
Harriet N. King, Miss Jennie M. King, Charles 
Meves, S. S. E. Cowperthwait, now of Haddonfield, 
E. W. D. Jefferis, Charles J. Butler, then a class lead- 
er; Robert H. Guthrie, Dr. Alphonso Irwin, and 
John R. Minnick, now of Longport. 

The report for Third Street Church at the Confer- 
ence of 1879 was as follows : Probationers, 127; mem- 
bers, 555; value of church, $50,000; value of parson- 
age, $4500; debt, $6000; salary, $2000; missionary 
collection, $653; church extension, $100. It was a 
year of hard labor and the results were seen in the 
improved condition of the church, spiritually as well 
as financially. 

The forty-third session of the Conference was held 
at Keyport beginning March 12, 1879, with Bishop 
Stephen M. Merrill presiding. Dr. Graw was then 
president of the Conference Board of Church Exten- 



128 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

sion, trustee of Pennington Seminary, trustee of 
Dickinson College, one of the Triers of Appeal, chair- 
man of Committee on Memoirs, and member of the 
special Committee on Conference Relations. 

At this session of the Conference Assembly bill 
No. 325, in regard to the sale of liquors, etc., to min- 
ors, which had recently passed both houses of the 
New Jersey legislature, and was then in the hands of 
Gov. McClellan for his signature, was read, and the 
Conference by a rising vote unanimously requested 
the governor to sign it. A committee of three, con- 
sisting of Drs. Graw, O'Hanlon and Chadwick, was 
appointed to convey this request to the governor in 
person. Rev. W. P. Corbett, who was present, was ex- 
tended the courtesy of honorary membership, and 
invited to participate in the deliberations of the Con- 
ference. The following comxmittee was appointed to 
examine the Conference records in reference to the 
Centenary Fund and report a history of the same at 
the next Conference: J. B. Graw, G. B. Wight, S. E. 
Post, 

The next session of the Conference was held in 
Third Street, Camden, Dr. Graw having just com- 
pleted his second year. The report for this year's 
work was as follows : Probationers, 65 ; members, 
658; missions, $950. Third Street led in contribu- 
tions for missions this year, Greene Street, Trenton, 
being second. Bishop Bowman presided at this ses- 
sion of the Conference, his administration being, as 
usual, highly appreciated by the preachers. On 
motion of J. B. Graw the Conference, by a rising 
vote, adopted a paper thanking the senate of New 
Jersey for passing the local option bill and requesting 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 129 

the assembly to do the same, and providing for a com- 
mittee to visit the legislature and present this action. 
J. B. Graw and B. C. Lippincott were appointed as 
the committee. 

Dr. Graw received loi votes for General Confer- 
ence delegate at this session, and was elected on the 
first ballot. The fact that Dr. Graw got his then 
highest vote while a pastor is quite significant. The 
other delegates elected were W. W. Moffett, G. B. 
Wight, and C. E. Hill. The reserves were Jefferson 
Lewis and D. H. Schock. The lay delegates were 
Gen. C. B. Fisk and Judge J. H. Diverty; reserves, 
W. S. Yard, J. W. Newlin. 

The Sabbath services were unusually interesting 
and impressive. Dr. Whitecar led the Conference 
love feast, and it was a season of great power. Bish- 
op Bowman's sermon in the morning lingers yet in 
the memory of many. The text, 'Tor He is our 
peace," gave him an opportunity to develop the 
theme along lines for which he was peculiarly adapt- 
ed by temperament, inclination and study. From 
the reading of the first hymn, beginning ''O love 
divine, what hast thou done," to the benediction, 
there breathed a spirit of gentle, fervent devotion. 

Samuel Vansant was presiding elder of the New 
Brunswick District then, and was fast nearing the end 
of his useful career. W. W. MofTett was on the 
Trenton District, S. E. Post the Camden District, 
and C. E. Hill the Bridgeton District. John Y. Dob- 
bins was transferred this year to the Kentucky Con- 
ference to assume charge of a prominent church 
there. A. E. Ballard was agent of the New Jersey 
State Temperance Alliance. 



130 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

During Dr. Graw's entire pastorate at Third Street 
he was active in temperance work, but this part of his 
career will be treated more fully in another portion 
of the book. 

. Charles J. Butler, who was a class leader in Third 
Street Church when Dr. Graw was pastor, furnishes 
the following: 

"One evening shortly after Dr. Graw had been 
appointed to the charge, one of the members said to 
him at the close of the prayer meeting: 'Doctor, we 
believe in shouting here.' 

" 'Well,' he replied, 'I have no objection to your 
shouting if you live just as loud as you shout.' 

"He came to me one evening and said There is a 
poor family I have found down in the lower part of 
the city. I wish you would call and see them.' It 
was surely a poverty-stricken home. I climbed up a 
rickety flight of stairs and went into the room where 
lay a man dying ; but I found him trusting Christ. He 
said, 'Brother Graw pointed me to the Savior and I 
have found peace in believing in Jesus,' was the testi- 
mony of this man. The doctor interested some of 
the ladies in the case and his wife was converted after 
the death of the man, and she joined the church and 
proved to be a very faithful member. Frequently he 
has said to me, 'I have been to see a sick man, or 
woman, or some one destitute,' and requested me to 
call. Very few of the members knew of the vast 
amount of work of that kind he did. Many of these 
people were a long distance from his church. 

"I shall always remember a sermon he preached to 
an immense congregation one Sunday evening, the 




■J. I.. Hays Dr. Giaw 

Taken at Chicago in 1900. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 133 

text being, 'If a man have an ox and that ox push 
with his horns and the man be injured the ox shall 
be killed and the owner be stoned.' It was one of 
the many temperance sermons he preached that drew 
large congregations. 

''Dr. Graw organized Bethany Church while presid- 
ing elder of the Camden District. There were just a 
few of us assembled in a little room on Federal street 
near the Atlantic Railroad. 'Did you ever attempt 
to organize a church before with such a small num- 
ber?' the doctor was asked. 'Oh, yes,' he replied; 'I 
organized a church in Quinton, near Salem, with 
only three members.' 'Well, if that is the case,' I 
said, 'We need not feel discouraged.' " 

The record for the third and last year was the best, 
in many respects, 130 probationers being reported, 
making a total for the three years of ^22. At the 
end of the third year there were 673 members and 130 
probationers on the roll. Dr. Graw was then largely 
interested in temperance work and in the manage- 
ment of Island Heights Association, but these outside 
affairs were not permitted to interfere in any way 
with his church duties and few of his critics cared to 
institute a comparison as to work done and results 
accomplished. Squire Cassady once said: "They 
criticise Dr. Graw for engaging in temperance and 
camp meeting work, but how many are there who do 
their church work more thoroughly? If some of the 
men who spend a large amount of their time loitering 
about my office and bothering me in my work with 
their petty gossip, would loaf less and work more it 
would be better for all concerned." 



134 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

During the third year Capt. Roth built what was 
to become the parsonage of the church after his 
death, on the lot adjoining the rear of the church. 
The old parsonage was on Stevens street, near Fourth. 

While the number of probationers was the largest 
the third year, and this is the most important test of 
effectiveness, it should also be remembered the mis- 
sionary collection reached the highest point attained 
up to this period — $1031.39. This was about equal 
to the combined contributions of Union, Broadway, 
and Tabernacle churches for that year. Centenary 
gave $409.39 in 1881. Third Street was again the 
Conference leader in contributions for missions this 
year. When Dr. Graw left Third Street he was pre- 
sented with a handsome gold watch, which he car- 
ried with him the remainder of his life. 

The forty-fifth session of the Conference was held 
in Salem, with Bishop Foster presiding. The ses- 
sion began March 9, 1881, in the Broadway Church, 
and continued until the following Tuesday morning. 
The temperance question was again up for considera- 
tion and "on motion of Dr. Graw, the Conference, by 
a rising vote, unanimously requested the legislature 
of the state to pass the local option bill now pend- 
ing before it." 

The death of Rev. Benjamin S. Sharp, November 
2, 1880, at Greenwich, N. Y., was reported at this 
session of the Conference, a resolution of condol- 
ence having been offered by R. J. Andrews and G. C. 
Maddock and adopted. Mr. Sharp had been a mem- 
ber of the New Jersey Conference for twenty years, 
and enjoyed the distinction of having had the largest 
revival in his church (First Church, Millville) of any 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 135 

held in the Conference from 1855 to 1900. (See 
appendix.) 

A resolution was introduced approving of the 
New Jersey Methodist, which was then edited by R. 
J. Andrews. Subsequently the paper was merged in- 
to the Epworth Advocate, of which Dr. Graw was 
editor. Dr. Graw was followed by Dr. James E. 
Lake, as editor. Both papers were originally run as 
monthly pubhcations. 

N. A. Macnichol and J. E. Price introduced a res- 
olution asking "That the bishop be requested to ap- 
point a committee of five, whose business it shall be 
to devise and report at the next Annual Conference 
a ^thorough and practical plan in the interests of our 
Conference claimants." Joseph Ashbrook, J. B. 
Graw, G. B. Wight, J. Lewis, C. H. Whitecar, W. 
W. Moffett and N. A. Macnichol were appointed as 
the committee. It was the purpose of this resolu- 
tion to inaugurate a movement looking to the estab- 
lishment of a permanent fund for the Conference 
claimants, and to provide more generous support for 
this worthy cause. 

A resolution was also introduced at this session of 
the Conference to appoint a committee of three to 
prepare a plan for organizing a Conference Historical 
Society. The following committee was named: R. 
J. Andrews, C. H. Whitecar, Enoch Green. 

Dr. G. K. Morris and Dr. Graw introduced a reso- 
lution approving the work of the New Jersey State 
Temperance Alliance and requesting, if practicable, 
that the second Sunday in May be set apart as tem- 
perance Sunday, when a collection was to be taken for 
the benefit of the treasury of the Alliance. 



136 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

W. S. Barnart introduced a strong resolution, urg- 
ing thorough organization to secure local option pre- 
paratory to a campaign on behalf of a state constitu- 
tional amendment prohibiting the sale of intoxicants. 

The National Temperance Society, having for- 
warded a request for the appointment of seven dele- 
gates to a National Temperance Convention to be 
held at Saratoga Springs June 21, 1881, the following 
were named: A. E. Ballard, G. R. Snyder, R. A. 
Chalker, J. B. Graw, B. C. Lippincott, G. K. Morris, 
and G. B. Wight. 

At this session of the Conference Dr. Graw re- 
turned to the presiding eldership after serving three 
years at Third Street Church. Dr. Moffett's article 
on the General Conference of 1880 will follow, after 
which Dr. Graw's earlier temperance record will be 
treated at length. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. I37 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1880— By W. W, MOFFET, D.D * 

HT the Conference held in Cincinnati in 1880 the 
New Jersey Conference was represented as 
follows: Clerical delegates, J. B. Graw, W. W. 
Moffett, G. B. Wight, and Charles E. Hill; reserves, 
Jefferson Lewis, D. H. Schock. Lay delegates. Gen. 
Clinton B. Fisk and Judge Jesse H. Diverty ; reserves, 
W. S. Yard, J. W. Newlin. Dr. Graw was the leader 
of the delegation and filled the position with honor 
to himself and the Conference. In constituting the 
standing committees at that Conference Dr. Graw 
was placed on the Committee of Missions and State 
of the Church. He was also a member of the Com- 
mittee on Temperance. He presented the following 
resolution, which was referred to the Committee on 
Temperance: Whereas The Methodist Episcopal 
Church is clearly and emphatically pronounced in 
favor of entire abstinence from the use of intoxicat- 
ing liquors as beverages, and of the prohibition of 
their manufacture, importation and sale for such use. 



*Rev. W. W. Moffett, D.D., was born in Westfield, N. J.; was 
converted in the local church, which gave him his license to 
preach. Freehold was his first charge. He has twice been pre- 
siding elder, serving the Trenton District 1878-80, and the New 
Brunswick District 1884-87; was a delegate to the General Confer- 
ence of 1880 and followed Dr. Graw as pastor of Third Street 
Church, Camden. Dr. Moffett was district superintendent of the 
American Bible Society from 1890 to 1898. He is now pastor of 
Central Church, Bridgeton. 



138 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

but has no specific methods for carrying on temper- 
ance work ; and 

Whereas, Some generally-accepted plan of action 
that will give wise direction to such means and appli- 
ances as may be available and will educate and unify 
public sentiment is highly important; and 

Whereas, The National Temperance Society and 
Publication House is doing such work as we desire to 
encourage, and is under the management of good 
men of our own and other churches and is the recog- 
nized head of nearly all forms of temperance effort; 
therefore 

Resolved, That we highly approve the work of the 
National Temperance Society and Publication House 
and commend their books, tracts and papers to our 
churches and Sunday schools, and to the general pub- 
He. 

That, In our judgment it would greatly advance the 
general cause of temperance if pastors would present 
the claims of this society to their people in an annual 
sermon, and invite contributions to its work. 

In these as in all committees and in other positions, 
he was an intelligent and earnest worker. At that 
Conference the order of public worship was revised 
and Dr. Graw presented the plan which was adopted 
and continued in use from 1880 to 1896. The tem- 
perance cause received special consideration in that 
General Conference, the church seeming disposed to 
take advanced ground in this great reform. Dr. 
Graw was appointed by the bishops a member of the 
special committee to whom the whole subject was re- 
ferred. During this General Conference Dr. Graw 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 139 

honored himself and his constituency in nominating 
Dr. J. M. Buckley* as editor of the Christian Advo- 
cate, and after twenty-one years in that position Dr. 
Buckley has fully demonstrated the wisdom of his 
election. When the exciting debate came up admit- 
ting Miss Frances E. Willard to address the Confer- 
ence in the interest of temperance, Dr, Graw's voice 
and vote were given to grant her the privilege, and 
the final action of the General Conference extended 
to Miss Willard a cordial invitation to address that 
body, which she gracefully declined with thanks to 
her friends who had secured her the privilege. In 
discussing the question of meeting the expenses of 
the delegates to the General Conference, it was dis- 
covered that many of the Conferences, and some of 
the largest of them, had fallen far short of raising 
their apportionments. It seemed only just that the 
delegates from such Conferences should not receive 
their full expenses, but only in proportion to their 
contributions. To make such a motion was un- 
popular, but Dr. Graw generally had the courage of 
his convictions and he made a motion that delegates 
should receive their expenses pro rata to the amounts 
raised by their Conferences. This created a hot dis- 
cussion, and as a majority of the Conferences were 

*Dr. James M. Buckley was born in Rahway, N. J., December 
16, 1836, and converted in 1855, while a student at Pennington Semi- 
nary; was licensed to preach in 1858, entered the New Hampshire 
Conference in 1859, and was first stationed at Exeter, N. H. After 
five years in the pastorate in New Hampshire he spent a year in 
Europe. On his return he went to Detroit, staying there three 
years. He was in the pastorate in the New York Bast Conference 
15 years, 12 of which were spent with two churches. He became 
editor of the New York Christian Advocate in 1880, being nomi- 
nated for the office by his life-long friend. Dr. J. B. Graw. 



140 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

deficient, the motion did not prevail, but as a result 
history shows that the apportionments have been 
more fully met in succeeding years. Dr. Graw was 
ever alert in guarding against legislation that would 
allow undue pressure upon the pastors, who are the 
great burden bearers in our Methodism, and when a 
determined effort was made to require all pastors 
when their names should be called in Conference to 
report the amount collected for church extension, as 
is done in case of the missionary collection, Dr. Graw 
made a vigorous and telling speech against it; the 
motion did not prevail, and the preachers were ex- 
cused from this additional yoke. At that Conference 
Dr. Graw was made a manager of the Missionary Soci- 
ety and also of the Church Extension Society, in 
which positions he continued until his death. At this 
session of the General Conference Dr. Graw received 
a cordial nomination for the office of missionary sec- 
retary and a goodly number of votes were cast in his 
favor; he also received a very complimentary vote for 
the office of bishop. 



REV. J. B. G'RAW, D.D. 141 



CHAPTER XVIL 

HIS EARLIER TEMPERANCE RECORD. 

^^^ HE Temperance Gazette succeeded the New 
L L Jersey Good Templar August 12, 1876, with 
J. B. Graw as editor and the following as edi- 
torial contributors : Rev. J. T. Crane, D.D. ; Rev. G. 
R. Snyder, T. G. Chattle, M.D. ; Rev. G. H. Neal and 
N. P. Potter. The paper had been exclusively de- 
voted to Good Templary and the intention in mak- 
ing the change was to enlarge its scope so as to cover 
the entire temperance field. In studying the files ot 
the paper issued during the Centennial year we find 
many familiar names. Rev. B. C. Lippincott was 
then Grand Worthy Patriarch of the Sons of Tem- 
perance; Rev. D. C. Babcock, Rev. Geo. K. Morris, 
Rev. G. R. Snyder, Dr. J. W. Webb, Rev. P. Coombe, 
Rev. John Simpson, Dr. H. L. Gilmour, and others 
are frequently mentioned in the news columns as de- 
livering temperance addresses or officiating at lodge 
gatherings. In the issue of August 26, 1876, there 
appears a call for a ''State Convention of the Prohibi- 
tion Reform Party of New Jersey," signed by S. B. 
Ransom, who was then a leading Prohibition work- 
er residing in Jersey City. This call recites the fact 
that the two chief political parties of the country had 
refused to legislate on the Prohibition question and 
that it is therefore "the duty of all temperance men to 
vote for Hon. Green Clay Smith, of Kentucky, nom- 
inee for president, and Hon. Gideon T. Stewart,, of 



142 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Ohio, nominee for vice-president of the National 
Prohibition Reform party." The State Convention 
was announced to be held at Temperance Hall, Tren- 
ton, the 30th day of August, 1876. This appears to 
be the beginning of the independent Prohibition 
movement in New Jersey. 

The State Temperance Alliance was then quite 
active in pushing its work. Meetings were held 
throughout the state in the interest of this move- 
ment, which was very largely supported by the cler- 
gy. The Sons of Temperance were quite active and 
strong at that time, while the Order of Good Tem- 
plars was probably at the zenith of its career. Har- 
man Yerkes of Bordentown was a presidential elec- 
tor on the ticket in 1876 and has been from that time 
down to the present an active and consistent worker 
for the cause. In the issue of September 2;^, 1876, 
the following paragraph appeared : "We again re- 
mind our correspondents that the Temperance Ga- 
zette is not a poHtical paper and all partisan con- 
troversy is out of order in our columns. One or two 
articles written for our columns have contained ob- 
jectionable matter in this direction and had we ex- 
amined the manuscript copy we should have drawn 
our pencil across one or two improper paragraphs." 
There was beginning thus early the agitation for in- 
dependent action which subsequently resulted in the 
formation of a party having for its sole purpose the 
complete extermination of the liquor traffic. 

At the session of the Grand Lodge I. O. G. T., 
held October 12, 1876, Dr. Graw declined re-election 
to the office of G. W. C. T. and Capt. E. H. Ropes 
was elected head of the order. E. L. Allen was 



il 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 143 

elected G. W. C; Rev. John Simpson, secretary; 
James Stephenson, treasurer; J. P. Miller, marshal; 
Rev. G. H. Neal, chaplain. E. H. Ropes, J. B. Graw 
and W. L. Hope were elected representatives to the 
R. W. G. L. In the issue of October 28, 1876, there 
appeared an editorial entitled ''Shall I vote the Pro- 
hibition ticket?" After briefly reviewing the situa- 
tion the editor said : "As we see things, candor and 
honesty compel us to answer no, for the reason that 
it will only take so many votes from the party which 
is the most favorable to the cause of temperance and 
thereby possibly throw the government into the 
hands of the rummies." 

In the issue of November 11, 1876, Rev. G. K. 
Morris became one of the editorial contributors to 
the Gazette, and for quite a while thereafter furnished 
interesting articles for its columns. 

In December, 1876, a statement was made in the 
news columns that a strong effort was being made by 
the State Temperance Alliance to secure the passage 
of a local option law. Rev. G. R. Snyder, the sec- 
retary, gave an account of the State Alliance meet- 
ing held in Newark, December 6th. The secretary 
and Rev. J. S. Gaskill were appointed a committee to 
represent the Alliance before the next session of the 
New Jersey Conference with a view to securing a 
more direct recognition of the Alliance by the Confer- 
ence. In the issue of January 27, 1877, there is a 
communication from Rev. S. W. Lake, of Farming- 
dale, who suggested that "temperance experience 
meetings" might be profitably held in the churches. 
The seventh annual meeting of the State Temperance 
Alliance was held in the Central Baptist Church, 



144 LIFE AND TI'MES OF 

Trenton, January 17th. There was a large atten- 
dance of delegates from all parts of the state. The 
president, George Sheppard Page, called the conven- 
tion to order. Vice-presidents were appointed for 
each county and a large executive committee was 
named to act during the ensuing year. Nearly $900 
were raised towards prosecuting the work of the Alli- 
ance during the year. A meeting was held in the 
evening at which addresses were made by J. K. Os- 
good, of Maine, who was the originator of the re- 
form club movement, Mrs. M. R. Denman, of New- 
ark, Mrs. R. T. Haines, of Elizabeth, and Dr. H. A. 
Buttz, of Madison. 

At a temperance meeting held at Long Branch, 
February 4, 1877, there were 375 signers to the 
pledge and a Reform Club was instituted. A num- 
ber of temperance meetings followed this lecture, and 
in a few days the total of pledge signers had been in- 
creased to 478. On Thursday night, the 15th, Dr. 
Graw gave a temperance lecture in the Centenary 
Church, and 131 additional signers were secured. 
Rev. G. C. Maddock, who was pastor of the church 
then, was foremost in pushing the work, and Rev. F. 
A. Morrell was chaplain of the club. Prof. J. M. 
Green and Dr. T. G. Chattle were leaders in this re- 
form. 

H. Fenimore, T. L. Chapman and Leonard Brown 
were signers to a call for the regular quarterly session 
of the Burlington County Lodge of Good Templars, 
pubHshed March 17, 1877. In the issue of March 24, 
1877, it is announced that local option was defeated 
at Chatham and also at Hightstown, but Haddon- 
field gave an overwhelming majority for local option 



REV. J. B. GRiAW, D.D. I45 

— 437 for to 39 against. This paragraph taken from 
the issue of April 14, 1877, is very interesting: ''A 
temperance revival is sweeping over New York. In 
Elmira 3000 have signed the pledge ; in Corning 300 
signed the pledge in one night. Nearly all the work- 
ers are reformed drunkards." In glancing through 
the local correspondence we find Wilson Ernst, Dr. 
J. J. Sleeper and Barton Lowe were active workers 
in Camden County Good Templary at that time. 
During the month of April, 1877, James A. Bradley, 
who was then editor of the Asbury Park Journal, was 
sued for Hbel by a liquor seller in Monmouth county. 

The 23d session of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge 
was held in Congress Hall, Portland, Maine, May 
22d, 1877. Dr. Graw attended the session as a dele- 
gate from New Jersey. The report of the R. W. G. 
T. indicated the order had passed through a year of 
g:reat conflict in consequence of the Malins secession. 
The doctor appears to have been very greatly im- 
pressed with the condition of afifairs in Maine, and 
in writing his report of the R. W. G. L. called atten- 
tion to the fact that while Prohibition may not pro- 
hibit completely in the state of Maine, its influence is 
everywhere manifest in the improved morals of the 
people, the banishment of the public saloon, the re- 
duction of taxes and the general elevation of the 
standards of public and private morality. 

There appears in the issue of June 9, 1877, an ar- 
ticle entitled "License Question in Camden/* On 
Tuesday, May 15, 1877, the Court of Common Pleas 
held a session to pass on applications for saloon li- 
censes. Judge D. J. Pancoast, on behalf of the court, 
announced a rule that the petitioner must show he 



146 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

has not made an application during one year, what 
his business is, whether he holds any and what office, 
the exact location of his hotel, its capacity, whether 
there are any unpaid fines or costs against him, etc. 
The enforcement of this rule worked disastrously to 
the Hquor men, for out of 55 applications, only 9 were 
granted, 34 were refused, and 12 laid over. Quite 
naturally the liquor men were enraged and threat- 
ened vengeance against Judge Pancoast. But the 
community at large approved of the action of the 
court with great unanimity. Rev. Isaac C. Wynn, 
pastor of the Fourth Street Baptist Church, 
at the close of a concert, called on the people to sing 
the long meter doxology in thankfulness for the 
action of the court. 

This paragraph from the issue of June 30, 1877, re- 
fers to the organization of Seaside Park : ''Among the 
latest and newest seaside resorts Seaside Park must 
-be placed. Although but a child in comparison with 
Long Branch and Ocean Grove, it is nevertheless a 
promising place." A number of Baptist ministers 
were interested in this resort, which was intended to 
be run on Prohibition principles. 

Dr. Graw went on the New Jersey editorial excur- 
sion to Watkins Glen in 1877 and seems to have en- 
joyed the trip very much. A rule that no wine should 
be served in the presence of ladies was passed, and 
this seems to have given satisfaction to the temper- 
ance men in the party. 

In a news letter from Bordentown, written by Har- 
man Yerkes and pubhshed in the Gazette, August 18, 
1877, referring to an address of Edwin H. Coates, he 
says : "We have obtained a large number of signers to 



REV. J. B. QRAW, D.D. 147 

the pledge. I must not conclude without telling you 
that Mr. Coates is an old Prohibitionist, having 
voted against the sale of rum over forty years ago." 

The issue of the Gazette of August 25, 1877, con- 
tains an editorial urging the workers not to let the 
Lodges, Divisions and Temples die. Temperance 
activity was then manifesting itself largely in pushing 
the Reform Club movement. The temperance peo- 
ple in Jersey City were quite active and aggressive at 
this time, having secured the arrest of a large num- 
ber of rumsellers who were selling without license. 
Temperance days were advertised for Ocean Grove, 
Seaville, Pitman Grove and at other points. There 
was a call issued for the holding of a Prohibition 
State Convention at Trenton, on Wednesday, Sep- 
tember 19, 1877, signed "By order of the Grand 
Division S. of T. of New Jersey, James R. Perine, G. 
W. P., H. B. Howell, G. Scribe." Rev. G. R. Sny- 
der gives a report of temperance day at Pitman 
Grove when Rev. J. H. Hutchinson, Hon. W. N. 
Duf¥, Jonah Boughten, Mrs. F. H. Carr and others 
made addresses. August 30, 1877, was set apart as 
temperance day at the Seaville Camp Meeting, of 
which Dr. Graw became president in 1900. Rev. B. 
C. Lippincott, P. G. W. P. of the Sons of Temper- 
ance, delivered an able address in the morning. Dr. 
Graw, Capt. E. H. Ropes and Rev. R. J. Andrews 
were the afternoon speakers. The presiding elder, 
Rev. J. S. Heisler, and the other ministers present, 
did all they could to make the meeting a success. 

Good Templars' day at Ocean Grove was cele- 
brated August 9, 1877, and was in many respects a 
remarkable occasion. Addresses were made by Dr. 



148 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

E. H. Stokes, Dr. Graw, Capt. Jos. A. Yard, Rev. 
John Simpson, Capt. E. H. Ropes and others. Dr. 
O'Hanlon, who was one of the speakers, said the 
question was a very great one and met with powerful 
opposition. Over one hundred milHon dollars were 
invested in the liquor business. One way to check 
the evil was to make the children all temperance chil- 
dren. He recommended a fund of $100,000 to es- 
tablish an illustrated newspaper to portray the evils 
of intemperance. In the evening an address was 
made by William Noble, "the EngHsh Gough," who 
made a fine impression and created intense interest 
by his speech. In the issue of September 22, 1877, a 
call is pubHshed for the fourth annual state conven- 
tion of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union 
of New Jersey to be held in Trenton, October 3 and 
4, 1877, signed by Mrs. Mary R. Denman, president. 
A Prohibition meeting was held in Mount Holly 
October 10, 1877, when addresses were delivered by 
Rev. B. C. Lippincott, of Pennington, Judge Ran- 
som, of Jersey City, Rodolphus Bingham, of Camden, 
and others. Mr. Bingham was the Prohibition can- 
didate for governor in 1877. In the same issue of 
the Gazette there is an account of the State Prohibi- 
tion Convention held in Trenton. The convention 
was called to order by S. B. Ransom and James R. 
Perine was elected temporary chairman. After 
prayer by Rev. B. C. Lippincott, John S. Littell, of 
Newark, was made temporary secretary. Committees 
were appointed on resolutions, permanent organiza- 
tion and finance. While the different committees 
were out Rev. W. B. Osborne made a few remarks. 
"He said he was remarkably glad when he heard this 




p^ 








8^'^^lfe*-"^ % 




> 




■llll^i^F ^"^1^ 


^. 


^ 


— ^ 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. igl 

convention was to nominate a candidate for gover- 
nor. He had been a strong Republican in the time 
of slavery, but as that was done away with he was 
done v/ith the party. He did not beheve in handUng 
a dead dog when there was a living Hon roaring 
around." Remarks were made by a number of other 
delegates. In the afternoon the convention reassem- 
bled, adopted the reports of the committees and nom- 
inated Rodolphus Bingham, of Camden, for govern- 
or. There were fifty-four delegates present. In the 
issue of October 13, 1877, Dr. Graw severed his con- 
nection with the Republican party and united with 
the Prohibitionists, placing the name of their nomi- 
nee for governor at the head of the editorial column 
and publishing the platform in full. In an editorial 
he declared his intention to thereafter conduct the 
paper in the interest of political prohibition chiefly, 
but freely allowing the use of the columns of the pa- 
per to non-partisan temperance workers. On Wed- 
nesday, October 17, 1877, the second temperance 
convention under the auspices of the Newark Con- 
ference Temperance Society for the Newark District, 
was held in St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Newark. The objects of the convention were to 
awaken a greater interest and harmonize the efforts 
of temperance workers. Presiding elder Richard Van- 
horn of the Newark District opened a discussion on 
"State of Temperance in our Churches." Rev. Mr. 
Larew spoke entertainingly on the subject and 
claimed there was too much talk and too little work ; 
too much machinery, in fact, ''more harness than 
horse." Rev. Dr. James M. Buckley, of Stamford, 
Connecticut, followed in an address on the reforma- 

10 



152 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

tion of the drunkard. The doctor believed in arrest- 
ing habitual drunkards and placing them in jails and 
asylums. He did not believe the theory taught by 
many that conversion takes away the appetite for 
liquor. In the struggle for conversion the will pow- 
er is greatly improved, so they are enabled by grace 
to reform. Dr. O. H. Tiffany, of New York, Rev. 
Alexander Craig, Dr. J. T. Crane, Rev. Solomon 
Parsons, Dr. L. R. Dunn, Dr. H. A. Buttz, and Rev. 
D. A. Goodsell also delivered addresses during the 
course of the day. The convention seems to have 
been a success from an educational standpoint. 

TOUR THROUGH THE SOUTH. 

Extracts from two letters written by Dr. Graw on 
his tour through the South : 

"On the evening of November 13, 1877, we left 
New York on a southern trip. * * * At Louisville 
we took the Louisville, Nashville and Great Southern 
Railway for Memphis. This is, without doubt, one 
of the best railways in the south ; few equal it any- 
where. We are now about 1500 miles from New 
York, perambulating the streets of Memphis, and 
conversing freely with southern people — the wicked 
and terrible southern people, of whom we have read 
in the political papers of the period. These wicked 
people approach us with a warmth of greeting, and a 
breadth of hospitality unequalled by anything that we 
have ever encountered in the north. 

"While in Memphis we visited the First M. E. 
Church, and heard an excellent sermon by Bishop 
Keener; the pastor. Dr. Surratt, was determined 
that we should occupy a place in the pulpit, thus ver- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. iS3 

ifying the Scriptures, 'Behold how pleasant it is for 
brethren to dwell together in unity.' In the afternoon 
we visited the Sabbath school of the M. E. Church, 
under charge of Rev. Mr. Register. At night, we 
preached. Rev. Wm. E. Boyle, of Long Branch, a 
member of our party, preached at night in one of the 
churches ; his sermon was highly spoken of. We also 
visited the Conference of the American Methodist 
Episcopal Church (colored). We were introduced 
to the bishop, and enjoyed a pleasant chat with him 
on matters pertaining to the colored people in the 
south. We passed the house of Jacob Thompson, 
once a member of Mr. Buchanan's cabinet. While 
in Memphis, we met a number of ex-Confederate offi- 
cers, with whom we conversed freely on army mat- 
ters — indeed, one day we rode between two ex-Con- 
federates. They declared they had had war enough. 
In this view of the matter we heartily concurred. So 
far as we have been able to judge, the southern peo- 
ple want peace; they heartily support the poHcy of 
President Hayes, and long for the time when the 
northern people shall come to the south by tens of 
thousands. 

"The best way, in our judgment, to unite the peo- 
ple of our beloved country, is to encourage immigra- 
tion. In our next we shall show some of the advan- 
tages that the south offers to immigrants." 

In a communication in the next week^s paper the 
doctor wrote : 

"White men and colored men may vote as they 
please. Republicans, who go south, may vote the 
^radical ticket' just as freely as they vote it in the 



154 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

north. But we think northern RepubUcans would 
become southern Democrats as a rule, for the Repub- 
lican party, in the south, fails to include the best peo- 
ple. The president's policy is heartily accepted in 
the south, and the people of the south are quiet and 
peaceable, politicians to the contrary, notwithstand- 
ing. We also conversed with negroes on this ques- 
tion, and the negroes find no fault except this, that 
they have 'hard times' in securing a living. This 
leads us to notice the present methods of working 
southern plantations. 

'The plantations are mostly leased to the negroes, 
each negro renting as many acres as he wishes to cul- 
tivate. The average negro is satisfied if he can only 
own a mule, 'gears' and saddle. He never dreams 
of laying up a dollar; indeed he prefers to own noth- 
ing, on the principle that he who owns nothing can 
defy the world. In the beginning of the year the 
negro goes to his landlord and gets meal and meai 
enough to keep his family until his crop is made. If 
the crop is unpromising the negro may dissolve part- 
nership, or at the end of the year he will confess an 
indebtedness ranging from $25 to $75. 

"The negro scratches the surface with a one-mule 
implement that he calls a plow; then he plants his 
cotton and corn; these are his staple crops. Crab 
grass and weeds contend for supremacy in the negro's 
fields of corn and cotton. Corn the negro never cuts, 
he merely 'shucks the years' and if his cotton is 
picked by December he does better than most of 
them have done this year. In Mississippi the negro 
pays from $3 to $5 an acre for uplands, and an indus- 
trious negro can make a good living, after paying 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. ISS 

such a rental. These very lands white men can buy 
to-day for $io an acre. This simple statement will 
^ive our readers an insight into the profitableness of 
southern farming. Panola county, Mississippi, is a 
garden spot, and to-day 100,000 acres of improved 
land can be bought there for $10 an acre. Two lines 
of railway run through these lands, and Memphis is 
only 43 miles distant. So anxious are southern peo- 
ple to sell, that they will allow three-fourths of the 
purchase money to remain on mortgage. The ques- 
tion is asked: Why don't the southern people run 
their own plantations?' The simple answer is, they 
don't know how. The south needs industrious north- 
ern immigrants just as bad as many northern people 
need just such homes as await them in the south. And 
this intermingling of northern people will restore 
tranquility to our whole race.'* 

In the Gazette of January 12, 1878, Rev. W. W. 
Christine writes from Williamstown : "Mr. Editor : — • 
The merriest of merry Christmases and happiest of 
happy New Years, to you and yours, is the wish of 
my heart. May no dun come to your sanctum ; may 
all your delinquent subscribers pay up, may all your 
correspondents write legibly and intelligently, and 
may your subscription list swell to twice its present 
size. If you realize the above you ought to be happy 
and unless the raps you have been receiving recently 
have very materially changed your genial nature you 
will be happy." 

At this time Dr. Graw was making a strong efifort 
to induce the people of Toms River to change the 
name of the place, but without success. Among the 



IS6 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

names suggested were: Riverport, Brighton and 
Riverview ; but the conservative element preferred to 
cling to the old name. The issue of February 9, 
1878, contains this interesting editorial paragraph: 

"Dr. James M. Buckley, pastor of the M. E. Church 
at Stamford, Connecticut, was recently prosecuted 
by the whiskey men. If the rummies knew Dr. Buck- 
ley as well as we do, they would let him alone. For 
cutting satire, wit, repartee, sharp points, logic, elo- 
quence and impudence the doctor stands without a 
peer. We would like to have the New Jersey State 
Alliance employ Dr. Buckley for a short time; he 
would make things lively." 

In 1878 a curious liquor revenue scheme was in 
vogue in Virginia. The Mofifett bell punch, which 
imposed a tax of two and a half cents on a drink of 
liquor, is said to have brought into the treasury of 
Virginia from $400,000 to $600,000 a year. This 
scheme had at least the merit of novelty, but like all 
others of its class, was of short duration. 

The New Jersey State Temperance Alliance was 
very active at this period, meetings being held at 
many different points and much good work done. 
Nearly all of the counties were fairly well organized. 
The extent to which the pledge movement had 
grown is shown by a statement published in the issue 
of March 9, 1878: 'Tledge signers at Wilmington, 
Delaware, 13,000; Chicago, 15,000; Columbus, Ohio, 
16,000; Cleveland, Ohio, 40,000; state of Kentucky, 
75,000; total for state of Ohio, 500,000." In 1878 
mention is made of the fact that Queen Victoria had 
given £5000 to the temperance cause in London. 

Mount Holly temperance men seem to have been 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. I57 

very successful in 1878, for the statement is made in 
the issue of the Gazette March 23d that the Prohibi- 
tionists had put a ticket in the field at the spring elec- 
tion and had succeeded in electing fifteen of their 
candidates, among others being the assessor, chosen 
freeholder, one commissioner of appeals and four 
township committeemen. 

The announcement was made in this issue of the 
Gazette that Dr. Graw had moved from Toms River 
to Camden to assume charge of Third Street Church. 

When the policy of the Gazette was changed it 
subjected the editor to a number of criticisms from 
ministerial associates and the doctor seems to have 
been somewhat nettled at times when unkind things 
were said concerning the paper and himself. Refer- 
ring to a meeting at which he had been publicly criti- 
cised for running a Prohibition newspaper for profit 
he said : ''If we made no more money out of other 
people than we have made out of this body of Chris- 
tian gentlemen we would not be able to furnish paste 
for mailing purposes. One of the gentlemen who 
leveled his thunderbolts against us is considerably in 
our debt, and before he opens fire again we advise 
him to pay up or we shall give him a free advertise- 
ment." We have no way of finding out whether the 
gentleman referred to "paid up or shut up,'* and so 
will have to leave this matter unsettled. After the 
lapse of a quarter of a century incidents of this kind 
can be looked back to with much more composure of 
mind than was possible at the time of their occur- 
rence. 

An article on where Prohibition was first estab- 
Ushed contained the following: "On the coast of 



158 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Maine, about seven miles from Portsmouth, is the 
ancient town of York. The celebrated Femande 
Gorges intended to have this become a great city, 
and, after having it laid out with that view, finding 
the climate too cold, he returned to England within 
two or three years thereafter, and it never became 
what he anticipated, though it was for years the most 
important place in the province. It was under a city 
government for ten years, and was the first incorpor- 
ated city on the western continent, with possibly the 
exception of St. Augustine, Florida. During the year 
1690 while it was a city and John Davis its mayor, 
there was a prohibitory law passed, which embraced 
all the essential features of the modern Maine law. 
This was the first prohibitory liquor law on record. 
A copy of this law can be found in the first volume 
of the 'Maine Historical Collections.' " 

Dr. Graw and Rev. C. F. Garrison were appointed 
a committee to arrange for a temperance convention 
at Ocean Grove during the summer of 1878 under 
the auspices of the State Temperance Alliance. Mrs. 
A. E. Cooper, of Millville, had a long article entitled 
'Temperance in Millville" in the issue of May 4, 1878, 
in which she referred to the origin and growth of the 
local Union. The W. C. T. U. was then beginning to 
make an impression throughout the entire state. 
This interesting paragraph was found in the May 
issue : "Orange, New Jersey. — A letter headed with 
skull and cross bones and of frightful orthography 
was received a few days ago by George Lindsey in 
which his life was threatened unless he withdrew 
from the active part he is taking in the temperance 
cause," 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. i59 

As pastor of Third Street Church, Camden, Dr. 
Graw had frequent opportunities to preach on the 
subject of temperance, none of which were neglected. 
Dr. Hewitt was then pastor of Tabernacle Church, 
and he, too, is quoted in the issue of May 1 1 as having 
preached an excellent temperance sermon to a large 
congregation. This statement is also made : "The 
temperance men in Camden are making it lively for 
the liquor sellers and a nice little pamphlet contain- 
ing the signatures of applications for license is being 
circulated through the city. This little pamphlet con- 
tains the names of freeholders, both male and female. 
Asterisk indicates names which appear on more than 
one application. Only two or three applications are 
free from duplicate names." 

The first anniversary of the W. C. T. U. of Cam- 
den was held in Third Street Church during the 
month of May. Mrs. F. H. Carr, president, gave an 
interesting report of the work done during the year. 
Rev. J. Y. Dobbins, who was then pastor of Centen- 
ary Church, preached a temperance sermon of 
marked ability the third Sunday in May, 1878. 

Harman Yerkes has this interesting correspon- 
dence in the Gazette of June 15, 1878: 

"Minneapolis, Minn., June i. Mr. Editor: — I left 
Bordentown on Wednesday, May i, for Fargo, Dako- 
ta Territory, on the Great Northern Pacific R. R. I 
have one thousand acres of land at this point on the 
Red River of the North at the crossing of the road. 
I have eight teams breaking six hundred and forty 
acres ready for wheat next spring. The furrows are 
one mile long. Some run gang plows and turn two 
furrows at a time. The breaking season is from the 



i6o LIFE AND TIMES OF 

middle of May to the middle of July. The price for 
breaking is from $2.75 to $3.00 per acre. Fargo is a 
good point, will make a large town, and has a popula- 
tion of twelve hundred." This prediction made in 
1878 has been abundantly verified. It is also inter- 
esting to note that Fargo is now a Prohibition town 
and that Mr. Yerkes was largely instrumental in mak- 
ing it such. 

The first extended reference to Island Heights was 
made in the issue of the Gazette of June 29, 1878, 
when attention is called to the fact that "arrange- 
ments have been made for holding a camp meet- 
ing in the beautiful grove of Island Heights formerly 
known as the island and situated on Toms River. The 
meeting is to commence August 13th and to continue 
ten days, and is to be run on the old, time-honored 
plan." The directors and ofificers of the Island 
Heights Association are given in the issue of July 6, 
1878, as follows: Directors, Rev. J. B. Graw, Rev. G. 
K. Morris, Rev. S. Vansant, C. E. Hendrickson, Esq., 
Mount Holly, and James G. Gowdy, of Toms River. 
The ofificers were: President, Dr. J. B. Graw; vice- 
president, W. W. Mofifett; secretary, G. K. Morris; 
treasurer, S. Vansant. There is an editorial on Isl- 
and Heights in the July 20th issue in which this refer- 
ence is made to the fact that the place was many years 
before used as a summer resort by the Indians : 

"When the foundations of Rome, the Eternal City, 
were laid, and Romulus began his adventurous career, 
even then multitudes annually gathered at this island 
to snufif the health-restoring breezes, to drink of the 
mineral fountains pouring forth perennial blessings, 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. i6i 

and to grow fat on the abounding fish and oysters, 
which still remain attractive features of this place. 

'The evidences of the claims here made will be 
found entirely satisfactory to all who will examine 
them. 

''We need only point tO' the vast deposit of shells 
of clams and oysters covering a large portion of the 
tract. 

"For years, neighboring farmers have carted away 
the rich deposit for fertilizing purposes. The shells 
have crumbled away, for the most part, forming a 
valuable plant food or stimulant. Many arrow heads, 
fashioned ages ago, by the children of the forest ; and 
other relics of a long-forgotten race, have been found. 
Mr. Westray is the fortunate owner of an ancient In- 
dian tobacco pipe found on the island. Centuries 
ago, the smoke from that pipe quietly curled and 
floated ofif among the overhanging branches, as its 
dusky owner looked dreamily out on the quiet waters, 
or watched the maidens of his tribe gliding swiftly in 
their bark canoes across the beautiful bay, or beheld 
and approved the rude sports of naked boys wrest- 
ling on the shore. Wigwams once nestled where 
tents are now to be placed. Perhaps on the very 
spot where Christians will gather to worship God, 
those children of nature often lifted up their hearts 
to their Great Spirit. 

''They are all gone. It is sad to remember that 
not a line of their history is known. It cannot even 
be surmised when they ceased their visits to Island 
Heights. What calamities overwhelmed them in 
their far-ofif inland homes, we shall never know. For 
a time we shall revel in the same beauties, under the 



i62 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

same sky and sun and stars ; then we, too, shall pass 
away. Let us hope that on Celestial Heights we shall 
meet again." 

The camp meeting at Island Heights during the 
summer of 1878 presented an interesting program. 
Rev. Wm. C. Stockton took his great gospel tent to 
Island Heights, the Association chartered a steamer 
to run from its wharf to the railroad depot at Toms 
River and to make trips on the bay; a Temperance 
Congress was announced to begin on the evening of 
August 22d, with the Rev. C. H. Fowler, D.D., 
LL.D., to deliver the first address. Excursion trains 
were run from Philadelphia and New York, the fare 
being only $1.50. One hundred lots were sold at the 
first public sale, the prices ranging from $39 to $306 
per lot, aggregating about $11,000. The Associa- 
tion had special services on the raising of the national 
flag on the summit of Central avenue, Tuesday morn- 
ing, August 20, 1878. Beneath the stars and stripes 
floated the white bunting of the Association. As 
they slowly ascended, C. E. Hendrickson, of Mount 
Holly, led in singing ''The Star Spangled Banner." 
Prayer was offered by Dr. Gilder, of New York and 
addresses were made by Rev. C. R. Hartranft and Dr. 
G. K. Morris. 

In the fall campaign of 1878 General Sewell was 
supported by the temperance men. The Democratic 
nominee for senator was a liquor dealer and had the 
united support of the liquor men. This campaign 
was fought with a great deal of energy and resulted in 
a suit for libel against the editor of the Gazette on be- 
half of the Democratic nominee for state senator. 



REV. J. B. GRiAW, D.D. 163 

who was defeated. In the campaign that year James 
A. Bradley, the founder of Asbury Park, who was 
then a Prohibitionist, was a candidate on the ticket 
and worked hard for its advancement. Dr. Graw's 
arrest for libel created intense excitement at the time, 
and from that day until his vindication at the hands 
of the jury he spoke fearlessly and earnestly from his 
pulpit and through the columns of his paper. 

The announcement was made December 14, 1878, 
that Rev. S. Vansant, presiding elder of the New 
Brunswick District, 'Vas building the first complete 
dwelling house at Island Heights." In the issue of 
January 11, 1879, the following extract from the Cam- 
den Post was published: 

"Third Street Church was filled to repletion last 
evening by a multitude anxious to hear Dr. Graw's 
discourse upon crusades in general and the present 
temperance crusade in particular. Beginning with 
the crusades of Palestine nearly 600 years ago, the 
speaker traced organized movements for reform down 
to the present time ; giving a history of the women's 
temperance crusade in Ohio, five years ago, and show- 
ing the noble work the women are doing for the cause 
at the present time. Seats had been reserved for the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union and Men's 
Gospel Reform Association of this city, and at the 
close of his remarks Dr. Graw handed the meeting 
over to them. Isaac Peacock, Frank Hughes, and 
other members of the Reform Association, reformed 
through the work of the Union, gave their experience 
in plain words, but with thrilling effect. These ad- 
dresses were alternated with prayer and singing, and 



i64 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

formed an exceedingly interesting part of the eve- 
ning's exercises." 

In the fall of 1879 a strong effort was made to push 
the work of the New Jersey Temperance Alliance, a 
local option law being the object sought. It was de- 
cided to ask the legislature of New Jersey to pass a 
general local option law that should allow the voters 
of each township and each ward of the cities of the 
state to decide by their votes whether intoxicating 
liquors shall be sold within their bounds. Rev. Dr. 
Aikman was then president of the Alliance, Dr. G. K. 
Morris was corresponding secretary. Rev. J. W. Mor- 
ris, recording secretary and Henry B. Howell of Tren- 
ton treasurer. Dr. Graw was chairman of the com- 
mittee on legislative action which was composed ot 
Rev. S. Parsons, Dr. W. McGeorge, Charles Rhoads, 
Rev. J. S. VanDyke, and Dr. Graw. He was also 
chairman of the Executive Committee. The Colora- 
do Temperance Gazette, edited by E. L. Allen and 
published by W. C. Wheeler had the following inter- 
esting personal in its issue of December, 1879: "The 
New Jersey Good Templars have elected Rev. J. H. 
Boswell as G. W. C. T. We can very heartily con- 
gratulate our friends and co-workers on their choice. 
Rev. Boswell is a good man, strong preacher and a 
sound Prohibitionist." 

On Sunday, November 2, 1880, the new hall of the 
Christian Temperance Union of Camden was dedicat- 
ed. Mrs. F. H. Carr, president of the W. C. T. U., 
gave a brief address outlining the work of the organ- 
ization. The Union had been in existence four years 
and there were at the time of the dedication six Gos- 
pel Temperance Unions in Camden. Dr. Graw, Sam- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 165 

uel P. Godwin, president of the Franklin Reforma- 
tory Home, Philadelphia, and Rev. A. H. Lung, of 
Camden also delivered addresses. 

Clayton was engaged in a temperance campaign at 
that time, which subsequently culminated in the over- 
throw of the liquor men. Rev. A. Lawrence was pas- 
tor of the Methodist Church and Rev. J. D. Bruen of 
the Presbyterian Church, and both of these clergymen 
were active temperance workers. 

The fight for local option was being kept up with 
unceasing energy and many were the editorial appeals 
to the leaders to continue pressing the work. The 
local option law under consideration at that time was 
published in full in the Gazette for a number of conse- 
cutive weeks. Rev. A. E. Ballard, who was then 
agent for the State Temperance Alliance, was a regu- 
lar contributor to the columns of the Gazette. In 
traveling from one end of the state to the other and 
visiting the churches of all denominations, he was 
well qualified to write interestingly of the condition 
of temperance affairs locally throughout the entire 
state. 

A facetious subscriber made the editor a present of 
one dollar in gold, and also a pair of golden shoes for 
a doll. In acknowledging the receipt of the remit- 
tance the editor said in the issue of December 18, 
1880: ''We have received the annual subscription of 
Brother Jacob Jenkins, of Bordentown, in gold, and 
also a pair of beautiful golden shoes for a doll. As we 
happened to have a little three-year-old running 
around, we were compelled to invest in a doll. We 
wish our friend a Merry Christmas." In this same is- 
sue Rodolphus Bingham contributed a two-column 



i56 LIFE AND TIMES OP 

article in defence of the Prohibition Reform Party, 
which was subsequently replied to by Rev. G. R. 
Snyder, who afterward became a radical Prohibition- 
ist himself, but at the time of the controversy was con- 
servative in his political views. 

In the issue of January 15, 1881, Harman Yerkes of 
Bordentown, in writing from Fargo, Dakota, called 
attention to the fact that the thermometer was at 
thirty degrees below zero when he ate his Christmas 
dinner. Fargo was then enjoying a temperance re- 
vival under the leadership of Major Roland, of Rhode 
Island, who lectured for eighteen consecutive nights 
and organized a Reform Club with nearly 500 mem- 
bers. 

In January of this year Rev. J. W. Morris, of Ped- 
ricktown secured a bottle of what was advertised to 
be "salivated" beer. Taking the beer with him he 
went before the grand jury of Woodbury and secured 
the indictment of the rumseller. 

In the issue of January 29, 1881, Charles Rhoads, of 
Haddonfield, contributed an article on "Economical 
Side of Temperance," in which he called attention to 
the financial cost of the drink trafBc. 

Camden had eleven Gospel Temperance Unions in 
March, 1881. This phase of temperance activity had 
resulted in bringing about a reformation in the lives of 
many men who had been hard drinkers. 

The local option campaign in 1881 resulted in the 
defeat of the temperance forces. The following edi- 
torial from the Gazette of April 9, 1881, suggested 
the method by. which the defeat of the bill was en- 
compassed : 



REV. J. B. GRIAW, D.D, 169 

''While we were urging the local option bill before 
the Judiciary Committee of the Legislature, a certain 
member sent a telegram to the chief man among the 
rum sellers. The telegram read : 'Come down ; the 
local option people are pressing me sore.' What does 
the gentleman mean by coming down? We use the 
term gentleman in the congressional sense. In the 
classical language of bar-rooms we are told that 'com- 
ing down' means handing over a little change for 
sundries. We would Hke to know a little more about 
this 'coming down.' Our local option bill came down 
and went under the table, but just how the rum man 
came down we don't know. Did he visit Trenton? If 
so, what did he do there. Did he kneel down before 
the Judiciary Committee and say 'Please don't recom- 
mend this local option bill/ or did his hand come 
down under the weight of 'potential influence'? 
Please tell us, gentlemen, what this 'coming down* 
means. One thing we know, it was a coming down 
that gave the rum men the victory. Our coming 
down upon this coming down is still to come." 

The defeat of the local option bill was accomplished 
by adding nullifying amendments to it. 

This interesting paragraph is found in the issue of 
April 30, 1 881 : "A new temperance movement has 
been organized in Great Britain. It takes the form 
of a joint stock company, with a capital of $5,000,000, 
in shares of $5 each. It proposes to open temper- 
ance halls all over the kingdom. The Archbishop of 
Canterbury heads the prospectus of the enterprise." 

An editorial paragraph in the issue of May 14, 1881, 
calls attention to the death of Rev. Samuel Vansant, 
who had been in ill health for several months previous 

II 



170 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

and the appointment of his successor : "Rev. Edmund 
Hewitt, pastor of the First M. E. Church, New Bruns- 
wick, has been appointed presiding elder of New 
Brunswick District to fill the vacancy caused by the 
death of Rev. Samuel Vansant. This will be welcome 
news to the many friends of the new presiding elder." 

In the same issue of the Gazette there is a long and 
Jubilant communication from Clayton in which it is 
stated that a number of prominent citizens of the 
place had organized a stock company and raised suffi- 
cient money to purchase the Davis Hotel ; the design 
being to run the hotel thereafter in the interests of 
temperance. When the temperance people came in- 
to possession of the hotel there were $250 worth of 
liquors on hand, and the committee adopted a novel 
plan for disposing of the stuff. A funeral procession 
was arranged for in the following order : 

First. A coffin marked "King Alcohol." 

Second. A wagon containing all the liquor that had 
belonged to Charles Davis, late proprietor of the 
hotel. 

Third. Band wagon with band playing appropriate 
music. 

Fourth. Two loads of wood and kindling. 

Fifth. A load of wood with a bagatelle table former- 
ly used at the hotel, on top, drawn by a four-mule 
team. 

Sixth. Citizens in carriages. 

After passing through the principal streets of the 
town the procession halted at the place selected on 
the open lot in the rear of the town hall, where the 
whiskey was unloaded and surrounded with wood? 



REV. J. B. GR!AW, D.D. 171 

On four posts over the liquor was placed the bagatelle 
table on which rested the coffin of "King Alcohol." 

At this point the band played, the church bells rang 
and the mill whistles screamed. 

The assembled multitude was called to order by 
Judge Moore, who introduced Revs. A. Lawrence and 
J. D. Bruen, each of whom delivered appropriate ad- 
dresses. Fire was then applied to the funeral pile and 
in a few moments all that remained of "King Alcohol" 
in Clayton was in flames. This incident created the 
greatest enthusiasm locally and caused the editor to 
bring out his double column temperance rooster to 
properly celebrate the victory. 

The question of the formation of voting leagues 
was under consideration during 1881. The temper- 
ance people were deeply disappointed with the action 
of the legislature in refusing to pass the local option 
bill. At an adjourned meeting of the Board of Man- 
agers of the New Jersey State Temperance Alliance 
held June 7th, the report of the committee on voting 
leagues was presented by Rev. G. R. Snyder and the 
subject was thoroughly discussed. 

Dr. Graw was one of the delegates to the National 
Temperance Convention held in Saratoga, New York, 
during the month of June, 1881. The convention 
was called to order by Rev. Dr. A. G. Lawson, then of 
Brooklyn but now of the city of Camden. Dr. Graw 
was a member of the Committee on Rules and Order 
of Business, and Rev. G. K. Morris was chairman of 
the Finance Committee. The mass meeting at night 
was addressed by Frances E. Willard, Dr. J. O. Peck, 
and John B. Gough. Among the other delegates from 
New Jersey were H. B. Howell, Rev. H. R. Hall, 



172 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Mrs. J. C. Brown, Mrs. H. B. Anderson, Mrs. E. A. 
Mickel, Rev. S. W. Lake, Rev. J. H. Boswell, T. H. 
Landon, Hon. Simon Lake and Rev. John H. Hector, 
'The Black Knight." While returning from Sara- 
toga some of the delegation stopped off at Round 
Lake, where Dr. Graw narrowly escaped being killed 
on the railroad track. He heard the train coming 
back of him and stepped over onto the next track, 
which was the track on which the train was coming. 
The warning cries of his companions caused him to 
spring quickly to one side and thus escape instant 
death. 

In the issue of July 9, 1881, there appeared an arti- 
cle in the news columns rejoicing over the no-license 
victory at Beverly. For a number of years thereafter 
Beverly continued to be a no-Hcense city. 

The voting league's constitution appeared in the 
issue of July 9, 1881, in which the objects of the 
league were set forth. Those who became members 
of the league pledged themselves to vote for only 
such as were known to be in favor of the suppres- 
sion of the liquor traffic. An all-day temperance meet- 
ing was held Monday, August i, 1881, on the Penns- 
grove Camp Meeting ground in charge of Rev. J. W. 
Morris. Dr. Graw, Dr. G. K. Morris, N. T. Wilkins 
and others were the speakers. 

The temperance camp meeting at Island Heights 
commenced July 20, 1881. Addresses were made by 
Revs. J. R. Westwood, Jacob Mulford, Walter Cham- 
berlain, G. T. Jackson, J. R. Thompson and J. McClel- 
lan. At subsequent meetings addresses were made 
by Dr. Ballard, Rev. E. Gifford, Chaplain Givin, 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. I73 

Revs. N. A. MacNichol, J. H. Boswell, Dr. Aikman, 
Dr. G. K. Morris and others. 

The familiar "rum tiger," which has rendered ex- 
cellent service in many campaigns for the last ten 
years, made its first appearance in the columns of the 
Gazette August 20, 1881. It attracted a great deal of 
attention at the time and has often in recent years 
done effective work in illustrating the evils growing 
out of the traffic in drink. 

The older temperance workers of Camden remem- 
ber the interesting case of Jacob Mulford, a reformed 
man, who after living an exemplary Christian life for 
eighteen months, gave way to his appetite for drink 
and in a little while found rest in an untimely grave, in 
1 88 1, Mr. Mulford was an earnest, intelligent and 
consecrated Christian and Prohibition worker, but the 
appetite for drink had fastened on him so strongly as 
to become irresistible. His downfall and sad death 
created intense sympathy at the time. 

The following interesting paragraph is found in 
Rev. A. E. Ballard's communication from Bloomfield, 
N. J., in the issue of October 15, 1881 : 

"It was a strange experience for the agent in the 
church where fifty-six years ago he first went to Sun- 
day school — to fix the very spot in the gallery where 
he used to sit, a boy of four or five years, and wonder 
what the minister was talking about; to preach to 
people, the elder of whom had known his parents and 
the mature ones had been his schoolmates ; to remem- 
ber that he was preaching temperance where in his 
own early days the ministers themselves drank their 
cup of spirits; to realize that all his ancestry, his 
brothers and sisters who have died, and his deceased 



174 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

children, were sleeping within sight of the pulpit win- 
dow — all this left an impression of strangeness not 
easily gotten over." 

This was the Camden county Prohibition ticket 
voted for at the November election, 1881 : For sena- 
tor, C. B. Coles ; First Assembly District, James Free- 
man; sheriff, Joseph L. Thackara; surrogate, David 
B. Brown. In the Second and Third Districts candi- 
dates of the Democratic and Republican party, re- 
spectively, were endorsed. 

On November 19, 1881, the Temperance Gazette 
was issued from its ofBce in Camden, at no Federal 
street. In 1885 the building at 131 Federal street was 
erected, since which the Gazette has been published 
continuously from that office. On removal to Cam- 
den the Gazette had been enlarged to an eight col- 
umn folio, and the price advanced from $1.25 to $1.50. 

In the issue of January 21, 1882, this reference is 
made to one of the most prominent members of Third 
Street Church: "Captain Frederic Roth is, in many 
respects, one of our most remarkable citizens. His 
memory goes back to the time when there was no 
steam ferry boat, no railroad facilities, or house of re- 
ligious worship, and when Camden consisted of only 
a few straggling houses, with no pretentions what- 
ever. Now we have a city of almost 42,000 in- 
habitants. The captain is in his eighty-eighth year 
and may be seen walking our streets every day. He 
is the patriarch of Third Street Church. He loves it 
as his life and to his generosity the people are largely 
indebted for their beautiful and commodious struc- 
ture." 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. i75 

This news note is taken from the issue of February 
4, 1882: "Beverly has a cheeky set of men it seems. 
Some one, through the medium of the Banner, ex- 
pressed dissatisrfaction at the manner in which things 
were conducted in a pool-room at that place. 
Straightway the proprietors of this 'cigar emporium 
and billiard parlors, etc., together with an ambitious 
attorney, came out in a card, announcing that any 
further persecution on the part of the people would 
result disastrously. It is needless to remark that 
everyone is scared." 



176 LIFE AND TI'MES OF 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

AGGRESSIVE WORK FOR PROHIBITION. 

fN the spring of 1882 there were three temper- 
ance bills before the legislature : the local op- 
tion bill, the amendment to the license laws and 
the constitutional amendment bill. Dr. G. K. Morris 
had charge of the latter bill and the former bills were 
looked after by Revs. A. E. Ballard, J. B. Graw and 
Chas. Rhoads. The prediction was ventured in an edi- 
torial, while the bills were under consideration, that 
the local option bill would pass the state senate, but 
nothing was said as to its chances in the house. 

Mrs. Downs was a regular contributor to the col- 
umns of the Gazette at this time and her interesting 
letters were a feature of the paper. In the issue of 
March 1 1, 1882, Charles Rhoads has an article entitled 
"Legislature and Temperance," in which he embodies 
the text of the local option bill which he had prepared 
and which had been introduced in the house by Philip 
P. Baker, then a member from Vineland. This bill 
was defeated in the assembly by a vote of 26 to 24. 
After relating the facts with reference to the case Mr. 
Rhoads concluded by saying : "To tolerate this traffic 
at all, with its iniquities, is in my estimation both un- 
just and impolitic. It is a curse on our civilization, 
our prosperity and our happiness as a nation. Must 
we then appeal in vain for laws that will ameliorate its 
horrors, to those who are elected by the people to pro- 
tect and care for their interests?" 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. I77 

This editorial from the issue of March i8, 1882, in- 
dicates intense dissatisfaction on the part of Dr. Graw 
with the action taken by the legislature. For some- 
time previous it had been his hope and desire that 
a course would be taken which would render in- 
dependent political action unnecessary. We quote 
the editorial in full : 

"During the month of January last, a local option 
bill was introduced in the senate and referred to a 
committee, where it had been allowed to slumber un- 
til the present writing. Whether the senate will con- 
sider it at this late day is to us a matter of no concern 
whatever. To pass the bill now would only be add- 
ing insult to injury already inflicted by the studied 
non-action of the senate. The senate has acted the 
part of non-understandable folly in doing as they have 
done. They might have passed the local option bill 
without incurring the displeasure of the rum men, for 
they have perfect control of the assembly, and the bill 
would have been as summarily thrown under the table 
as the amendment to the license laws was indecently 
postponed — we believe they called it indefinitely post- 
poned. If any lingering faith remained in us that eith- 
er party would do anything to help temperance, and 
hurt the liquor traffic, that faith no longer lingers — it 
has passed away ; and if either the Republican or Dem- 
ocratic party has any claim on temperance men, we 
invite them to make out their bills, as the hour for 
dissolving all co-partnership with existing parties as 
such has come. Weighed in the balances, they have 
been found wanting. The issue is squarely joined by 
the rum men, and hereafter it will be as squarely 
joined by us. The political party that wants the sup- 



178 LIFE AND TI'MES OF 

port of temperance voters must insert a temperance 
plank in its platform. The Republican party can no 
longer ride two horses on the question of temperance 
and rumselling. The horses travel in opposite direc- 
tions, and our horse has been traveling backwards 
quite long enough. License or prohibition; which 
shall it be?" 

This paragraph is taken from the Gazette of March 
25th : ''Just before going to press we received a dis- 
patch from Senator Baker that our local option bill 
passed the senate by a vote of 12 to 8. The senator 
did all that he could to secure its passage. Now let 
the assembly do as well and we shall be satisfied." 

Saturday, August 18, 1882, was camp meeting Sun- 
day at Island Heights. The services were largely at- 
tended, the large auditorium being filled to hear the 
speakers. Rev. Dr. A. J. Kynett, of Philadelphia, 
preached eloquently in the morning. In the evening 
Rev. G. H. Neal preached an interesting sermon to a 
large congregation. Rev. E. W. Burr, of the New- 
ark Conference, was the afternoon speaker. The 
fourth anniversary of the Island Heights camp meet- 
ing was held Tuesday, August 15th. Rev. Dr. White- 
car preached an eloquent sermon in the morning and 
in the afternoon Bishop Simpson delivered one of his 
most eloquent, thrilling and powerful addresses. 

Under the heading ''Journals and Journalists" the 
statement is made August 26, 1882, that "The Vine- 
land Journal is delivered to subscribers on the side 
streets and outskirts of the town by expert bicycle 
riders." The bicycle then in use required considera- 
ble skill and courage to manipulate, and resembled the 
wheel of the present day in very few particulars. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 179 

What was then a novelty is now an everyday common- 
place. 

An account of the National Prohibition Conven- 
tion held August 23, 1882, is given in the Gazette of 
August 26th. The convention was held in Chicago 
and was attended by about 350 delegates. Gideon T. 
Stewart called the meeting to order and Rev. John 
Russell was elected temporary chairman. Mrs. J. 
Ellen Foster and Miss Frances E. Willard were mem- 
bers of the convention. John B. Finch of Nebraska, 
who subsequently became chairman of the National 
Committee and who was the ablest political leader the 
Prohibitionists ever had, was also a delegate and took 
an active part in the proceedings. The convention 
adopted as its title "The Prohibition Home Protection 
Party." 

The Prohibition Home Protection Convention for 
the First Congressional District met at Diamond Cot- 
tage, Camden, the first week in September, 1882, with 
Joseph L. Thackara, of Berlin, presiding. Reuben 
Woolman, of Elmer, was nominated for congress. 
The attendance was encouraging and considerable in- 
terest was manifested in the proceedings. 

This paragraph concerning a well-known Massa- 
chusetts temperance worker is taken from the issue of 
September 16, 1882: "Henry H. Faxon is a Massa- 
chusetts advocate of total abstinence, and he is pecu- 
liar in being willing to spend money for the cause. 
Whenever he deems the time auspicious he buys a 
page of advertising space in the Boston Herald, and 
fills it with whatever he desires to say to the public. 
He has in that way just pubhshed the record of every 
state legislator on the liquor question." Another in- 



i8o LIFE AND TIMES OF 

teresting extract is given from the same issue : ''A. J. 
Cassatt, first vice-president of the Pennsylvania Rail- 
road, has tendered his resignation, to take effect the 
first of October. In it he states that he will not, if he 
should ever desire to go back to active work again, 
connect himself with any other road than the Penn- 
sylvania." This, it seems, was a resignation pledge 
that meant exactly what it said, for when he did re- 
turn to active railroad work, it was to assume the 
presidency of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. 

In an address at Diamond Cottage Grove, Camden, 
in September, 1882, Dr. Graw said: "If the Republi- 
can party holds to the dramseller it cannot hold us. 
* * * No party can longer ask my vote if it fails to 
represent my principles. I am not, per se, for a third 
party, but it seems I must go that way per necessity." 

Dr. Graw took an active part in the services at Pit- 
man Grove in 1882, being one of the speakers on tem- 
perance day, preaching on the Sabbath and dedicat- 
ing the Whitecar Tabernacle. 

This brief but incisive editorial is taken from the 
Gazette of September 2;^, 1882 : "We said to the legis- 
lature last winter that we had come to ask for local 
option once more, and failing to receive a favorable 
response, we should demand something stronger. We 
now ask for the constitutional amendment prohibit- 
ing the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor, 
and no man or party shall have our vote or support 
that fails openly and squarely to stand up for this prin- 
ciple." 

A call for a Prohibition convention to be held at 
Asbury Park, October 10, 1882, was issued, and 
signed by Dr. Graw, Rodolphus Bingham, James A. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. i8i 

Bradley, Gen. Fisk, Rev. B. C. Lippincott, Rev. J. Y. 
Dobbins, Rev. J. E. Price, Rev. J. S. Heisler, Rev. 
W. S. Barnart, Rev. J. H. Boswell, Rev. G. K. Morris, 
Rev. Geo. Swain, S. B. Ransom and others. 

A correspondent, in writing of temperance day 
meeting at Seaville Camp, said : ''The morning speak- 
er was Dr. Graw, and while he may not care to have 
many personal remarks made, as he is the editor, yet 
it was said by every competent judge that the doctor 
gave the best temperance lecture ever heard on the 
grounds, holding up the subject before the eyes of 
the people for nearly two hours, without wearying any 
one." 

The Prohibition convention to meet at Asbury 
Park, the call for which has previously been referred 
to, was held as announced. The attendance was large 
and great interest was manifested in the proceedings. 
Gen. Fisk was made president of the meeting, and 
Dr. Graw was one of the first vice-presidents, and 
Revs. G. K. Morris and O. A. Kerr were the secre- 
taries. Addresses were made by Rev. W. W. Mofifett, 
Rev. H. R. Hall, Rodolphus Bingham and others. 
Resolutions were adopted commending local option, 
urging the adoption of a Prohibition constitutional 
amendment and declaring, ''We will vote for no can- 
didate unless unequivocally pledged to support a con- 
stitutional amendment for the suppression of the li- 
quor traffic." The organization then and there effected 
was to be known as "The Constitutional Prohibition 
Union of New Jersey." 

Mention is made in the issue of the Gazette of Octo- 
ber 21, 1882, of the sale of the Parsons' Hotel proper- 
ty, opposite the Gazette office, no Federal street, to 



i82 LIFE AND TI'MBS OF 

Wm. T. Bailey ''for $150, providing he remove the 
building at once." 

A half-column report of the ''Atlantic County Inde- 
pendent Temperance Convention" was published in 
this issue. The convention was held in the city hall, 
Atlantic City, and was called to order by Z. U. Mat- 
thews. G. F. Saxton, of Hammonton, was made 
chairman and Jonah Wootton, Jr., of Atlantic City, 
secretary. P. S. Tilton, of Hammonton, was nomi- 
nated for the assembly, and D. C. Potter, of Smith's 
Landing, for surrogate. Dr. Edward North, the Re- 
publican nominee for coroner, and Lewis Parker, Jr., 
the Democratic candidate for congress, were en- 
dorsed. The action of the convention was not satis- 
factory to a number of the delegates, one of whom 
wrote a caustic letter in criticism, which was replied to 
in the best English at the command of Rev. J. R. 
Thompson, the presiding ofBcer, who, to complete the 
Hibernicism, "Had his Dutch up." The affair was 
settled amicably, however. 

There is an account of the organization of the We- 
nonah church in the issue of November 4, 1882. Dr. 
Graw presided at the meeting, when sixteen members 
joined the organization. The proposed new church 
was to cost $5000. These are the original trustees : 
Stephen Greene, president; C. B. Johnson, secretary; 
Dr. Risley, treasurer; George Quigley, Dr. Gilmour, 
D. Cooper Cattell, Wm. B. Sickler. 

The dedication of Grace Church, Camden, occurred 
November 5, 1882, and was in charge of the presid- 
ing elder, Dr. Graw. A subscription of $3700 was 
taken in the morning, $600 was raised in the Sunday 
school, and at night the aggregate for the day footed 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 183 

Up to nearly $5500. Bishop Hurst preached in the 
morning; Gen. Fisk spoke in the afternoon, and Dr. 
Graw, Gen. Fisk and Bishop Hurst were the evening 
speakers. Rev. J. H. Boswell was then pastor of the 
church. 

Dr. T. G. Chattle, who was the Prohibition candi- 
date for the legislature in Monmouth county, in 1882, 
polled 1008 votes in Neptune township, a result which 
was extremely gratifying to Dr. Graw, who had la- 
bored hard for his old friend and former parishioner. 

At a fair given by the ladies of Third Street Church 
in December, 1882, Dr. Graw was presented with a 
large easy chair. This little token was greatly appre- 
ciated by the doctor, but he was too busy to use chairs 
of any kind at that time, and, in fact, during the great- 
er part of his life. 

The annual meeting of the New Jersey State Tem- 
perance Alliance at Newark, December 5 and 6, 1882, 
was a most enjoyable occasion, judging from the re- 
port. Addresses were made by Rev. Dr. Findley, Dr. 
Aikman, Rev. T. C. Mayham, J. N. Stearns, Dr. I. N. 
Quimby, Dr. Chadwick, Gen. Fisk, Dr. Graw, and 
others. 

This reference to Thomas V. Gator in the Gazette is 
found in the issue of January 2y, 1883 : "Hon. Thomas 
V. Cator made a ringing speech in the house last Wed- 
nesday in nominating Gov. Ludlow for the United 
States senatorship. He is a Prohibitionist, and is a 
Republican anti-monopolist." 

The following letter was published in the Gazette 
of February 3, 1883, and was greatly prized by Dr. 
Graw, who placed a high valuation on the friendship 
of Pf, Stokes : 



i84 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Ocean Grove, Jan. 27, 1883. 

Dear Dr. Graw: — I have been wanting to say to 
you for some time how much I enjoy your paper, the 
Temperance Gazette. Week after week it comes to 
me, filled with good cheer, like the smiles of a friend. 
I hail it with delight. You are doing a great work; 
God bless you in it. Of course, opposition will smite 
you, but be thou strong, and, as heretofore, *'show 
thyself a man." The right is bound to succeed, and 
your children will live to see Prohibition the law of 
the land. Don't falter. Right, in this work, is 
might. Yours in the work, 

E. H. Stokes. 

While the bill to submit an amendment to the con- 
stitution prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquor^' 
was being debated in the legislature, in 1883, John W. 
Griggs stated he would oppose the bill because there 
were more laws now than were enforced, and because 
Prohibitionists did more harm than the liquor men 
were doing. This called out a scathir editorial from 
Dr. Graw, in which he asked tb^ ^^^.nat from Passaic 
county some pointed questions. 

In the issue of February 24, 1883, the vote on in- 
definite postponement of the Prohibition amendment 
is given — 31 for to 29 against. One of the men most 
implicitly relied on to vote for the amendment, went 
over to the liquor side of the house and caused the de- 
feat of the temperance forces. This aroused the great- 
est indignation among temperance men, who felt they 
had been tricked again. The Gazette contained a 
stirring editorial referring to the affair, from which we 
extract the following : "To Arms ! — Such was the cry 
when the armed rebels fired on Fort Sumter, and shall 



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REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 187 

not patriots sound the alarm when rumsellers, beer 
brewers and drunkard makers generally control our 
legislature? We had hoped against hope that the 
assembly might possibly pass the Prohibition amend- 
ment resolution. Dr. Chattle did all that it was pos- 
sible for one man to do in this great struggle against 
legalized crime, and he deserves the praise of all good 
citizens. Of Mr. Cator we shall have something to 
say hereafter. As we now judge him, contempt is the 
only word that expresses our opinion of the man. 
[Mr. Cator had been counted as being in favor of the 
Prohibition amendment.] * * * We received infor- 
mation on Monday that the rum and beer men of New 
York had become alarmed and had moved on Tren- 
ton in force, armed with such influences as are usually 
employed. * * * After awhile — God grant that it 
may not be too late — good citizens will see that they 
have allowed pot-house politicians, lewd and corrupt 
men who are too lazy to work, dramsellers, gamblers 
and thieves, whose peers may be found in our peniten- 
tiaries, to control our political machinery." 

February 24, 1883, one of the Gazette correspon- 
dents nominated this Prohibition ticket for the elec- 
tion of 1884 : For president, John P. St. John, of Kan- 
sas ; for vice-president, John Wanamaker, of Pennsyl- 
vania. 

The Prohibition State Convention to nominate a 
candidate for governor in 1883, met in Temperance 
Hall, Trenton, with 40 delegates in attendance. Reu- 
ben Woolman, of Elmer, was made chairman and R. 
V. Page, of Camden, secretary. Dr. I. N. Quimby, of 
Jersey City, was nominated for governor by acclama- 
tion. 

12 



i88 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Dr. Graw got sarcastic in this paragraph, pubhshed 
in the issue of June 9, 1883: 'TheBridgeton Patriot 
says the presiding elder did not understand the state 
of affairs at Moorestown, and did not. care to prevent 
the unpleasantness that sprung up at that point. Bish- 
op Simpson says, 'The presiding elder managed the 
affairs with great wisdom and prudence, and the set- 
tlement of the Moorestown question is of great value 
to the denomination at large.' What puzzles us is to 
know how Bishop Simpson should make so great a 
mistake as to differ with the Patriot on an ecclesiasti- 
cal question." 

The trend of affairs in temperance work is shown 
by the action of the Burlington County Alliance, taken 
April 2^, 1883, when a resolution was introduced 
*'that independent political action, regardless of exist- 
ing parties, be the future pohcy of this alliance, and 
we urge upon the different townships the need of 
such action and recommend that in all cases candi- 
dates for office should be such as are fully in sympathy 
with prohibitory legislation." The above resolution 
was reported by the committee of which Rev. J. E. 
Willey was chairman and Leonard Brown a member. 

The following paragraph is taken from a letter de- 
scriptive of the seventh annual temperance meeting at 
Thousand Island Park, written by Rev. D. C. Bab- 
cock: "At 3 P. M. General Fisk was introduced to 
preside, and made the first address. He has just re- 
turned from Indian Territory where he had been 
summoned to settle matters with the wards of the 
nation and had found the work easy because 'prohi- 
bition prohibits' in that section. The people had 
placed their expectation high, but they were more 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 189 

than met. He will always get a large welcome at 
Thousand Island Park. At the close of his excellent 
address he introduced John P. St. John, of Kansas, 
who did the cause grand service in an address of an 
hour." 

The editor approvingly quotes in the issue of Sep- 
tember 15, 1883, from a letter written by Ex-gover- 
nor St. John to a friend, in which he said : "I want no 
office. I have enlisted for life in the war against rum- 
sellers, and I regard such a fight as far more honora- 
ble than to wade through beer and whiskey to the 
highest office in the gift of the people." 

Dr. Graw was in receipt of invitations of various 
kinds but the one sent him in September, 1883, by a 
well known Newark brewer, was probably the least 
expected and most surprising of all. We publish the 
invitation and Dr. Graw's editorial comments in full, 
as taken from the issue of September 22, 1883: 

INVITATION EXTRAORDINARY. 

Newark, N. J., Sept., 1883. 
Editor N. J. Temperance Gazette, 

Dear Sir : — You are cordially invited to attend the 
opening of my new brewery, which will be celebrated 
on Tuesday, September 25th, 1883, at one P. M. 
Trusting that you may favor me with your presence, 
I remain yours most respectfully, 

Gottfried Krueger. 

Gottfried Krueger, the beer king of Newark, has 
kindly forwarded to us the above invitation. Pre- 
cisely what the program will be at the opening of his 
new brewery we do not know. It is fair to presume, 
however, that foaming beer will flow without money 



I90 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

and without price for the comfort of invited guests. 
We suppose a large number of the editorial fraternity 
will be present, but fearing that the brethren who may 
be present will fail to give an advertisement sufficient- 
ly full and comprehensive, we take the liberty of ex- 
pressing a few pertinent thoughts. And first of all we 
fear that friend Krueger has omitted to invite a large 
number of persons who have a greater claim on his 
hospitality than we have. For example, if he would 
invite all the bummers, loafers and dead-beats that 
were made such by his old brewery, he would have a 
fair sample of the work he is doing ; his exhibition 
would scarcely come up to an ordinary cattle show, 
but still it would be strikingly illustrative of the effects 
of beer on human beings. As Mr. Krueger is ambi- 
tious for political honors he might learn a valuable 
lesson in political science that would be useful to him 
when he reaches the United States senate, an honor 
to which he aspired a year ago. The sight would en- 
able him to know the value of beer in fitting men for 
the lowest slums of society. We fear that Mr. Krue- 
ger has overlooked another class of people — the vast 
army of women and children who have been impover- 
ished by his beer. We suppose that food and cloth- 
ing would be more acceptable to the impoverished 
families of Mr. Krueger's beer-guzzlers than the malt 
that will flow > from his new brewery. Would it not 
be well to turn the new brewery into a mill so that it 
may help to feed the victims who have been famished 
by the old brewery? A sight of the women and chil- 
dren of his patrons might not > be agreeable, but God 
will set the work of the brewer in order before his eyes 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 191 

in the day of judgment, when it will be too late for re- 
pentance. But there is still another class of people 
that Mr. Krueger has failed to invite; we mean the 
men. and women who have gone to almshouses, asyl- 
ums and prisons in consequence of becoming intem- 
perate and therefore criminals, lunatics and paupers 
through drinking his beer. We invite Mr. Krueger's 
attention to the. following passage of scripture: 
'These things hast thou done and I kept silence ; thou 
thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thyself, but 
I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine 
eyes." The things that Mr. Krueger has done 
through his brewery are known to God and men, and 
the Lord says, "Now consider this, ye that forget God, 
lest I tear you in pieces and there, be none to deliver.'* 
Mr. Krueger once quoted a passage of scripture for 
our benefit; we will quote an appropriate. one for the 
opening of the new brewery : "But when thou makest 
a feast call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, 
and thou shalt be blest, for they cannot recompense 
thee, for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrec- 
tion of the just." — Jesus. There will be no recom- 
pense for Mr. Krueger on account of those who at- 
tend his opening next week. Will Mr. Krueger ac- 
cept our regrets? 1 

In October, 1883, Dr. Graw went on a trip to var- 
ious points in the west, and his editorial correspon- 
dence at that time indicated great activity among 
temperance workers in Ohio and elsewhere. He at- 
tended a conference of the United Brethren at Mar- 
ion and heard an address by Rev. Mr. Flickinger, a 
missionary, who said the greatest drawback to work 



192 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

in foreign lands was ''Christian whiskey/' so-called. 
Most of the United Brethren are Germans yet there 
were many radical temperance men among the speak- 
ers. The Prohibition constitutional amendment was 
then up for settlement, and this accounts for the great 
public arousement on the subject. 

As Dr. Quimby declined to permit his name to be 
used in connection with the nomination for governor 
on the Prohibition ticket another candidate had to be 
named. Calls had been issued by the Home Protec- 
tion Party and also by the State Alliance to meet in 
convention in Association Hall, Newark, October lo, 
1883. There was a large attendance of delegates rep- 
resenting both wings of the temperance movement. 
The committee on resolutions consisting of Dr. Aik- 
man, Dr. Graw, Dr. Ryerson, Dr. Hunt, and Professor 
Davidson reported : "That while the aboHtion of the 
liquor traiBc is absolutely necessary to temperance 
reform and to the promotion of morality and reUgion 
and so demands the aid of Christian citizens indepen- 
dent of their ecclesiastical aflfiliations, it is also a ques- 
tion of paramount political importance and fully justi- 
fies the use of the ballot. It is necessary to teach 
mere party politicians that they can no longer 
safely ignore temperance principles nor receive any- 
thing but the opposition of temperance men so long 
as they refuse to aid in the presentation to the people 
of the simple question of constitutional amendment." 

Two resolutions were introduced, one favoring sep- 
arate political action, the other opposing it. After a 
lengthy debate the vote stood 71 for and 18 against 
immediate separate action. Committee on nomina- 
tions for governor reported the name of Rev. Solomon 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. I93 

Parsons, of Union county, and he was unanimously 
and enthusiastically nominated as the standard bear- 
er of the campaign. Among the members of the 
Prohibition Executive Committee appointed at the 
convention were : Rev. J. H. Boswell and S. E. Brown, 
Atlantic county; Rev. H. R. Hall, Burlington coun- 
ty; C. B. Coles and R. Bingham, Camden county; 
Rev. C. F. Garrison and H. B. Howell, Mercer coun- 
ty; Rev. Wm. H. McCormick, Morris county; E. B. 
Humphreys, Salem county. 

In the issue of October 20, 1883, the Prohibition 
ticket was placed at the head of the editorial columns 
of the Gazette, and in this same issue the candidate, 
Rev. Solomon Parsons, had a two-column letter of 
acceptance, in which he recited the facts that Prohi- 
bition had been ignored by both of the old political 
parties, and that they had been uniformly opposed to 
stringent license regulations. It was a very able 
paper and w^as given wide circulation at the time. 

November 3, 1883, in the editorial column, we find 
this reference to a declaration made by Dr. New- 
man : "Rev. Dr. Newman says the church should re- 
vise her creed so that it would read 'I believe in the 
Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, communion 
of saints, the forgiveness of sins, total abstinence from 
all intoxicating liquors, the resurrection of the dead 
and Hfe everlasting.' If Christians, or those profess- 
ing to be Christians, would only resolve, irrespective 
of party ties, to vote as they pray and as their church 
vows commanded them, it would be a short time until 
this amended creed would become not only the faith 
but the common practice of the whole American peo- 



194 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

pie. Failing to do this they retard the work of tem- 
perance, which is the work ; of God, hinder the 
church's progress and delay the earnestly prayed for 
and long expected millennium." 

Temperance sentiment was now developing rapid- 
ly, owing to the attitude of the legislature in refusing 
to pass any of the measures advocated by the temper- 
ance element. The restlessness of the temperance 
people is reflected in the correspondence published 
in the news columns. When the bill proposing 
the submission of the prohibitory liquor amendment 
to the people, came before the house March i8, 1884, 
a strong effort was made by Dr. Chattle and others to 
secure its adoption, but it failed by a vote of 26 to 30. 

Dr. Graw is authority for the statement, made in 
the editorial column of the Gazette March 29, 1884, 
that Rev. Thomas Sovereign ''delivered the first tem- 
perance address he [Dr. Graw] ever listened to." 
This address was probably delivered in Scudder's 
schoolhouse, at Picton. 

In the spring of 1884 there was considerable con- 
troversy over the decHnation of the Conference to 
admit a well-known minister to membership, and it 
caused a Long Branch correspondent to make public 
charge in the Record — 

"That the four presiding elders had more to do 
with the overthrow of Mr. Miller than any others, 
there is but little doubt. These men have the repu- 
tation of ruling with an iron hand, and it is not the 
first time they have allowed their jealousy and person- 
al feelings to run away with their brains. In refer- 
ence to these elders a gentleman in Camden re- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. I95 

marked : 1 have known a great many corrupt politi- 
cal and judicial rings, but I have yet to find a body of 
men as corrupt as the presiding elders of the New 
Jersey Conference.' I am not prepared to testify to 
the truth of this remark, but the people can have it 
for what it is worth. Of one thing I am certain, the 
presiding elders have time and again operated in 
direct opposition to the expressed wish of the people, 
for no other purpose 'than to show their authority.' 
And the result has been, in many cases, broken down 
and spiritually impoverished churches." 

This called out a prompt and indignant reply from 
Dr. Graw, who characterized the anonymous corre- 
spondent as untruthful and unfair. The next week 
the correspondent and the Record made the follow- 
ing retractions : 

"Editors Record : — The article in your paper last 
week, written by me, and headed 'Brains not 
Wanted,' I find, after investigation, to be incorrect 
in many particulars. The remark which I attributed 
to a gentleman of Camden I find to be without foun- 
dation. I make this statement feeHng that I have 
done the presiding elders a great wrong. The arti- 
cle was written in good faith, but I now see that my 
authority for making statements reflecting on the 
elders was not good." 

The following editorial appeared in the same issue 
of the Record : 

"We regret having published i a communication 
last week reflecting discreditably on the presiding 
elders of the Methodist Episcopal Conference, inas- 
much as the statements made therein have been 
found to be incorrect and unjust." 



196 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

In Rev. Wm. B. Christine's letter to the Gazette 
from Ocean Grove, in the April 5, 1884, issue, there 
is this paragraph: "We have been spending several 
days in Newark attending the session of the Grand 
Council of the Royal Arcanum. Our mutual friend, 
Judge J. Frank Fort, at one time associate editor of 
the Temperance Gazette, made an excellent speech at 
the banquet given us, setting forth the benefits of the 
society." 

The high-license method was first given great 
prominence in 1884, when the politicians endeavored 
to force it to the front to head off the Prohibition 
movement, which was then rapidly gaining headway, 
and which continued to grow until the campaign of 
1886, when a compromise measure was introduced 
which divided the temperance forces and caused the 
advancing tide to recede. Dr. Graw was aggressive 
in his opposition to high license, as he believed it 
embodied evils not so appreciable in the then reign- 
ing system of low license. If high license would 
''make the business respectable," that would make 
it more dangerous to the class of young men who 
would not patronize low resorts. 

The convention to elect delegates to the National 
Prohibition Convention to be held in Pittsburg July 
23, 1884, was held in Trenton, April 22. Prof. Geo. 
Macloskie, of Princeton College, presided. Among 
the delegates to the National Convention were Gen. 
Fisk, Rev. S. Parsons, Rev. H. R. Hall, Rev. C. F. 
Garrison, H. B. Howell and C. L. Parker. 

Dr. T. G. Chattle, who was elected to the legisla- 
ture from Monmouth county on the temperance tick- 
et, wrote a letter on June 17, 1884, to the editor of 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 197 

the Gazette in which he gave ''advice to temperance 
men." He says : 

"Mr. Editor: — Having had slight legislative ex- 
perience without any very great probability of having 
it continued, it may not be amiss to give some 
thoughts suggested by legislative life and called 
forth by temperance men. Temperance people 
should not forget that the members of the legislature 
being on the ground understand the situation very 
much better than any one can who is not a member. 
If one enjoys the confidence of the district sufficient- 
ly to be sent as the representative of the people on 
the temperance question he should have enough of 
their confidence to be allowed to conduct his cam- 
paign in his own way. Temperance people should 
not look upon the temperance legislator as the med- 
ium through which to hurl impracticable bills on the 
legislature. The temperance men should unite on 
any one given thing. They should all favor consti- 
tutional Prohibition, local option or some one prin- 
ciple, and not permit their forces to be divided. * * * 
Our temperance papers should sustain and encour- 
age temperance members and not criticise their 
methods of conducting temperance campaigns. It 
may be all very well to say 'that temperance legisla- 
tion runs slow,' as the Gazette did during the last 
session, and fire shot at temperance members from 
the editorial sanctum. Paddy had no difficulty in 
fighting the bear from the loft out of danger, while 
his wife was killing the beast down-stairs, but it is 
probable that his wife knew just where, when and 
how to strike quite as well as he did, so I presume 



198 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the temperance members of the house knew quite as 
well as the Gazette how slow or fast to move." 

In the issue of June 28, 1884, is an editorial on 
Bishop Simpson, which is reprinted in full. Bishop 
Simpson had been a Hfe-long friend of Dr. Graw and 
the relation existing between them had been unin- 
terrupted and sincere. 

BISHOP SIMPSON. 

In our last issue we gave a brief outline of the Ufe 
and work of Bishop Simpson, with the promise that 
something more would follow. 

It is utterly impossible to draw a pen-picture, or 
write a sketch, that will in any sense do justice to so 
great and good a man as Bishop Simpson. He was 
great in many respects, with no perceptible points of 
weakness. He was many-sided. Indeed he was the 
most symmetrical character that we ever knew. As 
a man he was completely rounded up. He was famil- 
iar with almost every subject that touched the wel- 
fare of the world and the prosperity of the Christian 
church. His broad mind grappled with all the great 
questions of the age, so that political leaders, phil- 
anthropists and reformers, as well as Christian minis- 
ters, sought his counsel. 

His mind and heart were too broad in catholicity of 
Christian doctrine to be a bigot, or even lean toward 
sectarianism. He loved the whole church of God, 
and in turn the evangelical churches of the world 
loved him. 

The greatness of Bishop Simpson was like the 
greatness of nature, for while the creations of human 
genius dazzle and astonish by display, nature in her 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 199 

unobtrusive glory grows upon thought and imagina- 
tion until heart and mind becomes impressed with a 
divine nearness, and the soul glows with God's glory, 
as the face of Moses shone when he beheld the mystic 
grandeur of his divine Lord. 

In studying Bishop Simpson our first impressions 
led us to ask, Wherein is the greatness of this man? 
That he was great we felt in our soul, but the real 
character of his greatness we could not understand, 
until after long years of intimate acquaintance we 
realize more and more fully the grandeur of a charac- 
ter that stood out and above all other characters we 
have ever known in peerless beauty. As Carlyle 
says, "Some truths in their grandeur tower above all 
others, as some mountain peaks rise above others un- 
til they stand alone in a glory that belongs to them 
only." So our ascended bishop in his Christian man- 
hood towered above all other men by whom he was 
surrounded. Bishop Janes said to the writer on one 
occasion after listening to one of the matchless ser- 
mons of Bishop Simpson, "Such men constitute the 
moral wealth and glory of the church." 

The sunlight of eternity alone can print with pho- 
tographic accuracy the life-work of Bishop Simpson. 
Many, many sheaves have gone before, but many 
more are to follow. The loving and saintly life of 
Bishop Simpson has led an unnumbered host of chil- 
dren, as well as grown people, to the Savior, and eter- 
nity alone can tell how many crushed hearts have tak- 
en a more hopeful view of life after listening to his 
tender and beautiful descriptions of God's gracious 
and providential dealings with the children of men. 
There are many men now living who are better men 



200 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

and better preachers because they were permitted to 
Hsten to the counsels of this good man. The writer 
owes more to Bishop Simpson than to any other man 
in the world, not simply because of the counsels giv- 
en, but because of a life that to him was a constant 
benediction and a standing memorial of the power of 
Christ to mould and fashion the hearts of men. 

It was impossible to spend an hour with this saint- 
ly man without feehng a strong desire to be more 
holy and devoted to God. His very presence was an 
inspiration to greater effort and zeal in works of faith 
and love. Many men possess great personal power 
in persuading sinners to seek the Lord, and yet pos- 
sess little or no power in inspiring preachers and 
other workers with an earnest purpose to do more 
for God. But Bishop Simpson possessed to a won- 
derful degree the power to move leaders in thought 
and action, and therefore while others have been 
moving thousands he has moved tens of thousands. 

The greatness of Bishop Simpson was also seen in 
his modest and humble spirit. After receiving great- 
er and more numerous honors than any man of our 
day, no one could see the least indications of awak- 
ened vanity in act or word. 

No man was ever honored as the last General Con- 
ference honored Bishop Simpson, and the expression 
of love given him whenever he appeared in the Gen- 
eral Conference was simply the outgushing of warm 
and loving hearts. The Conference honored him be- 
cause it loved him. One of the delegates said, ''We 
give vent to our feelings because we can't help it." 
And everyone who knew the good bishop loved him 
because he could not help it. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 201 

Bishop Simpson was the friend of the poor and 
weak. We have known him to request presiding 
elders to go over every appointment in the Confer- 
ence to see if something could not be done to help a 
brother who felt afflicted in the appointment he re- 
ceived. 

It is needless to speak of the bishop as a preacher. 
His rare pulpit powers are a household word in 
the Christian world. 

But the great and good man has gone to his re- 
ward. Heaven is richer, earth is poorer. We would 
have been glad had our heavenly Father permitted 
him to stay with us for at least another decade, but 
his work is done, and a beautiful and active life has 
had an ideally beautiful close. In the midst of his use- 
fulness, just after the General Conference that loved 
him most, he has been called to join the great com- 
pany of those who washed their robes and made them 
white in the blood of the Lamb. A prince and a lead- 
er in Israel has fallen and we can only lay our tribute 
of love upon his casket, and pray that his mantle 
may fall on us. Many of us are beginning to feel 
Hke exclaiming with the patriarch: "My company 
has gone before." Death is robbed of its terrors 
when we think that it is only a translation to that 
bright world where the faithful have been gathering 
for centuries. 

>k ^ ik 

The campaign of 1884 was marked by extreme bit- 
terness on the part of politicians who had sought to 
divert the temperance A'ote, as theretofore. John P. 
St. John of Kansas and William Daniel of Tvlaryland 
were nominated by the Prohibitionists and at once 



202 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

a vigorous campaign was instituted and pressed with 
energy to election day. A number of years previous 
Dr. Graw had declared in favor of the Prohibition 
party. Subsequently the Alliance plan seemed to 
commend itself most to his judgment, and he en- 
dorsed and worked for that more especially. After 
it became evident that the poUticians were simply 
playing with the temperance people in order to tire 
them out, the doctor turned to the Prohibition party 
as the best method for registering his protest against 
the existence of the traf^c, and in which he might 
labor with better prospects of ultimate success He 
did not favor the independent plan until it seemed 
impossible to do anything further along the lines pre- 
viously worked. In the St. John campaign the Ga- 
zette took an active and honorable part, working loy- 
ally and earnestly for the cause. 

Rev. H. D. Opdyke w^as state organizer of the 
Prohibition party during 1884 and 1885, and was 
active in the work of forming clubs, circulating liter- 
ature and arousing sentiment. Thomas V. Gator, 
who had experienced a change in his political and 
temperance views since he was in the legislature, was 
engaged in campaign work for the Prohibitionists,^ 
speaking at Dover, Boonton, Hackensack and other 
points in 1884. 

Dr. Ghattle was elected to the senate from Mon- 
mouth county, this year, although the Democrats re- 
fused to either nominate or endorse him. This re- 
sult caused great rejoicing in the ranks of the tem- 
perance men, Dr. Graw being especially pleased. 

During the campaign a Republican newspaper had 
made the charge that Dr. Graw had used his power 



VM^W' 







Contributors to the series of General Conference articles. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. m 

as presiding elder to influence ministers on his Dis- 
trict to vote the Prohibition ticket. A meeting was 
held at the rooms of Perkinpine & Higgins, 914 
Arch street, Philadelphia, March 10, 1884, to con- 
sider what action it was necessary to take in refer- 
ence to the charge against the official integrity of the 
presiding elder of the Camden District. The meet- 
ing was called to order, and J. S. Heisler was chosen 
chairman and J. W. Morris secretary. It was moved 
that a committee consisting of the chairman and five 
others be appointed to make a proper report for pub- 
lication. The following brethren were appointed : J. 
S. Heisler, J. G. Crate, C. F. Garrison, C. F. Downs, 
J. F. Morrell, and J. H. Payran. The paper contain- 
ing the charge against Dr. Graw was read and the 
matter taken under consideration. After due de- 
liberation this resolution was adopted: 

Whereas, An unjust assault has been made on the 
Rev, J. B. Graw, D.D., insinuating that he would use 
his power as presiding elder to punish preachers who 
might not act in accord with him in the late presiden- 
tial canvass; 

Resolved, That we do most earnestly protest 
against any such unjust intimation. 

Resolved, That we also protest against the thought 
that we have any ministers among us who will sacri- 
fice their manhood so far as to submit to the dictation 
of any presiding elder as to the course they shall 
pursue at the ballot box. 

This resolution was unanimously adopted, and was 
subsequently signed by thirty preachers on Dr. 
Graw's District. This action indicated the deep feel- 
ing the preachers of the District had regarding this 

13 



2o6 LIFE AND TI'MES OF 

unjust and uncharitable charge by a partisan organ. 
The result of the affair was to still further entrench 
Dr. Graw in the esteem of the preachers of his Dis- 
trict, who, above all others, were in a position to 
know the utter falsity of the charges. 

The vote for St. John and Daniel in New Jersey ag- 
gregated 6155 and was very encouraging to the tem- 
perance workers. A call was issued for a Prohibi- 
tion Conference to meet in Temperance Hall, Tren- 
ton, on the nth of December to devise plans for per- 
fecting the state organization and to arrange for sys- 
tematic campaign work in the future. This call was 
signed by a large number of active temperance work- 
ers in the state, among others being Thomas V. Ca- 
tor, Jersey City ; H. B. Howell, Trenton ; C. L. Parker, 
Perth Amboy ; E. P. Stites, Cape May City ; Profes- 
sor Geo. Macloskie, Princeton; Geo. La Monte, 
Bound Brook; F. R. Austin, Atlantic City; G. B. 
Langley and Rev. S. W. Lake, Millville; Dr. J. B. 
Graw, Camden; F. V. Wolfe, Dover, Dr. F. W. 
Owen, Morristown, and Rev. W. E. Honeyman. 



REV. J. B. GR'AW, D.D. 207 



CHAPTER XIX. 

CENTENNIAL OF METHODISM. 

^^J^ R. GRAW and Rev. W. W. Moffett were the 
jA/ clerical and Gen. Fisk and B. F. Archer the 
lay delegates from the New Jersey Confer- 
ence to the centennial anniversary of Methodism held 
in Baltimore, December, 1884. The doctor had these 
descriptive letters in the Gazette of December 13th 
and 20th : 

BALTIMORE-THE SUCCESSFUL CENTENNIAL OF A GRANDLY 
SUCCESSFUL CHURCH. 

December 11. 

One hundred years ago the Methodist Episcopal 
Church was organized in this city. There was a gen- 
eral convention or conference of the preachers called 
by direction of Francis Asbury, who was the recog- 
nized assistant of Mr. Wesley. Dr. Coke, commis- 
sioned by Mr. Wesley, co-operated with Mr. Asbury 
in organizing the church, and also ordained Mr. As- 
bury a bishop. This conference is known in Metho- 
dist history as the Christmas Conference. 

All branches of the Methodist church in America 
are represented. We have representatives of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, the Church South, the 
various branches of the colored churches, the Meth- 
odist Protestant church, and the several branches of 
Canadian Methodism. Men from the north and 
south fraternize without reserve, while white and 



2o8 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

colored delegates greeted each other as brethren 
on the broad platform of a common Methodism. 

The following bishops are present : Bowman, An- 
drews, Foster and Fowler of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church; Wilson and Granbery, of the Church 
South; Campbell and Beber of the colored church. 
Distinguished ministers and laymen are present from 
all parts of the continent. 

New Jersey is represented by the following minis- 
ters: Drs. Whitney, Baldwin, Miley, Hurlbut and 
FitzGerald, of the Newark Conference; Revs. W. W. 
Mofifett and J. B. Graw of the New Jersey Confer- 
ence. The laymen are Gen. C. B. Fisk, B. F. Archer, 
H. K. Carroll, G. J. Ferry. All the sessions are held 
in the Mt. Vernon Place church, which is one of the 
largest and costHest churches in the Methodist de- 
nomination. 

A meeting for the reception of delegates was held 
on Tuesday night which was largely attended. The 
first session of the Conference proper opened at 9.30 
Tuesday morning, Bishop Andrews, chairman of the 
executive committee, called the Conference to order 
and nominated Bishop Granbery, of the Church 
South for chairman. Dr. Joseph Cummings led in 
prayer. The centenary hymn, composed by Rev. S. 
K. Cox, D.D., of Washington, was sung, beginning, 

*'Thou God of providence and grace, 
Our father's God in days of old, 
Alike to us reveal Thy face, 

And all Thy wondrous love unfold. " 

After the usual preliminaries incident to the or- 
ganization. Bishop R. S. Foster delivered the sermon. 
The bishop selected the following as his text : "And 



REV. J. B. QRAW, D.D. 209 

when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib, King of Assy- 
ria was come, and that he was purposed to fight 
against Jerusalem, he took counsel with his princes 
and his mighty men." II Chronicles, 32-2-3. "Walk 
about Zion and go around about her ; tell the towers 
thereof ; mark ye well her bulwarks ; consider her pal- 
aces that ye may tell it to the generations following." 
Psalms 68:12-13. The sermon was a masterpiece of 
pulpit eloquence seldom, if ever, equaled. The 
preacher paid a high tribute to Bishops Simpson and 
Pierce, who have both died within the year and who 
were appointed to preach the sermon. The preach- 
er reviewed the history of Methodism and also graph- 
ically described the Methodism that would win the 
struggle to take place in the coming century. He 
advocated a cultured and consecrated ministry, a de- 
voted and holy church, and a united Christianity. He 
took very decided ground against the liquor traffic, 
which he described as the concentration of all wrong, 
cruelty and degradation. He urged the ministry and 
membership to labor for the destruction of this giant 
evil. The good bishop believes in the utter exter- 
mination of the traffic. 

In the afternoon Dr. Miley read a paper on "The 
Work of the Christmas Conference," and Dr. Ridg- 
way read a paper on "The Personnel of the Christmas 
Conference." Missionary addresses were delivered in 
eleven churches at night. The Conference will ad- 
journ December 17th. 

Baltimore, December 17. 
The services during Friday and Saturday were 
very interesting; papers were read by ministers from 



2IO LIFE AND TIMES OF 

all parts of the continent, representing every branch 
of the great Methodist family. 

The evening services, consisting chiefly of platform 
addresses, have been distributed through the various 
churches of the city. Friday night was especially de- 
voted to the educational interests of the church. 

Saturday night was set apart for temperance work ; 
meetings were held in two churches. Among the 
speakers were Drs. Dorchester and Olin. 

On Sunday morning the pulpits of all denomina- 
tions of evangelical churches were occupied by dele- 
gates in attendance at the Conference. Bishop Gran- 
bery, of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, oc- 
cupied the pulpit of the Mt. Vernon Place Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Bishops Fowler, Merrill, An- 
drews, Bowman and Walden were among the notable 
preachers of the day. 

The afternoon was set apart for Sunday school 
jubilee services. The New Jersey delegates partici- 
pated in these meetings. Rev. W. W. Moflfett deliv- 
ered an address at Emmanuel Church. Rev. J. B. 
Graw presided at the Grace Church meeting at which 
Gen. C. B. Fisk delivered one of his most charming 
addresses. The streets of Baltimore were filled with 
Sunday school children going to and from the several 
meetings on Sunday. Indeed some of the people said 
that the Methodists had captured the city. 

The interest was fully sustained on Monday, Tues- 
day and Wednesday. With the closing services of 
Wednesday the first centennial of Methodism passed 
into history, and now the church which began its or- 
ganized career at the Christmas Conference of 1784 
has entered upon the second century of its work. 



REV. J. B. GRiAW, D.D. 211 

May this century be as the past and yet far more glo- 
rious on account of the holy living and earnest work 
of the people called Methodists. 

We cannot close this letter without referring to 
the excellent spirit which pervaded the Conference. 
Ministers and laymen of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South fraternized not only with the ministers 
and laymen of the Methodist Episcopal church but 
also with the colored brethren of all branches of 
Methodism. 

Rev. Dr. J. B. McFerrin in a very neat speech said : 
^Torty years ago we separated and turned our backs 
on one another; now we stand face to face as breth- 
ren in Christ." 

We also feel like saying a pleasant word for the 
Baltimore people who entertained us so royally. 
Some of the New Jersey delegates at least can say 
that they were entertained like princes. 



LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XX. 

CAMDEN DISTRICT— 1881-188 1. 

^^^ HE forty-sixth session of the Conference was 
^, held in First Church, Millville, March 8, 1882, 
Bishop E. G. Andrews presiding. At this 
session of the Conference W. P. Davis was trans- 
ferred from the Wilmington Conference, and J. Y. 
Dobbins from the Kentucky Conference, the former 
going to First Church, New Brunswick, and the lat- 
ter to State Street, Trenton. 

The memoir of Samuel Vansant was published in 
the Conference Minutes of 1882. Mr. Vansant was 
born at Port Republic, September 21, 1821, and was 
converted when ten years of age. He served one 
year under the presiding elder, at Columbus, in 1843, 
ajid entered the Conference in 1844. His rise in the 
Conference was rapid, and soon he was in demand by 
the largest churches. Death came April 24, 1881. 
Dr. Graw lost a true friend when death claimed this 
noble and unselfish man. During the preceding year 
Dr. G. F. Brown, Rev. F. A. Morrell, Rev. John W. 
McDougall, Rev. Jos. C. Summerill, Rev. David Mc- 
Curdy, Rev. C. C. Eastlack and Rev. Edward Messier 
had passed away, the year being notable for the num- 
ber of deaths of prominent ministers. 

Camden District, with 43 charges, had enjoyed a 
year of great spiritual prosperity, reporting 1079 P^O" 
bationers. Bridgeton District, having 48 charges 
and 1034 probationers, was second. Camden Dis- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 



213 



trict was the leader in missionary contributions, hav- 
ing raised $5,301. New Brunswick District, with 53 
charges, was third, having 1024 probationers. 

The forty-seventh session of the Conference was 
held in the church of which Dr. Graw had been pastor 
before he went on. the Burlington District — Centen- 




EEV SAMUEL VANSANT. 



ary Church (St. Luke), Long Branch — and where he 
had spent three happy and prosperous years. 
Bishop Wiley presided, Conference opening March 
21, 1883. This was the bishop's last presidency of the 
New Jersey Conference. 

In reporting his District work at the Conference 
Dr. Graw said the year had been one of great pros- 



214 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

perity in all departments of church work. Many 
church debts had been paid and most of the charges 
had enjoyed gracious revivals. St. Paul Church, At- 
lantic City, Z. T. Dugan, pastor, had 151 probationers. 
Third Street Church, Camden, W. W. Mofifett, pas- 
tor, reported 140 probationers. There had been pro- 
bationers added to the church on all but two charges. 
Union Church, Camden, J. S. Gaskill, pastor, had 
been completed and dedicated on May 7, by Bishop 
Warren. On the night of December 2 the Glouces- 
ter church was burned and the parsonage greatly 
damaged. The insurance on the church was only 
$5000, while there was a debt of $1200 against it, leav- 
ing less than $4000 to rebuild a church worth $12,000. 
The work of rebuilding the church had already begun, 
and the cornerstone was announced to be laid March 
2g. A beautiful new church, costing $8000, had been 
built at Hurfifville, and was free of debt. Wenonah" 
was a new charge this year, arrangements having 
been made to build a $6000 church during the com- 
ing summer. The missionary collection ($6,350) was 
the largest taken on any District in the Conference up 
to that time. This year 1458 probationers were re- 
ported from Camden District. Only one District ex- 
ceeded this number of probationers — Bridgeton Dis- 
trict, with 1 610. 

Dr. Graw was one of the speakers at the anniversary 
of the Temperance Society, which was held in Simp- 
son Church. He "declared war to the knife, and the 
knife to the hilt, against rumsellers." In discussing 
the legal phases of the Prohibition question he de- 
clared clergymen could no longer maintain an equiv- 
ocal position towards the temperance question. The 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 215 

Other speakers were D. W. C. Mclntire, C. F. Downs, 
H. M. Brown and James Rogers. 

Bishop W. L. Harris presided at the session of Con- 
ference held in Broadway Church, Camden, beginning 
March 12, 1884. This was the bishop's last episco- 
pal visit to the Conference. 

Several matters of considerable interest were men- 
tioned in Dr. Graw's report as presiding elder this 
year. Grace Church, Camden, was in great financial 
distress, and had to call in help from the other Metho- 
dist churches of the city. Samuel Russell, of Third 
Street Church, became superintendent of the Grace 
Church Sunday school, and it grew rapidly under his 
care. The Gloucester Church had recuperated grand- 
ly, had completed their new edifice, and only had a 
debt of $800 remaining. H. M. Brown, the pastor, 
was warmly commended for his good work. We 
quote the following from the doctor's report as print- 
ed in the Conference Minutes : 

Moorestown has had a year of trouble. Prior to 
the last Conference a few persons who occupied offi- 
cial positions resolved to secure the removal of Dr. 
Whitecar, others were equally determined that the 
doctor should not be driven away. The trustees 
claimed the right to lock the doors against him, and 
the presiding elder was notified that this would be 
done. 

The quarterly meeting was held immediately after 
Conference, neither the pastor nor presiding elder 
gaining admission to the church. It is proper to say 
that the parties in rebellion against church authority 
were treated with courtesy and kindness. The whole 
question resolved itself into this : "Does the appoint- 



2i6 LIFE AND TMES OF 

ing power belong to the Bishop, or does it belong to 
the trustees?" 

The trustees claimed that their deed gave them the 
power to lock the church against any pastor who 
might be sent to them. Following what they be- 
lieved to be their legal power, they locked the church, 
and refused to open it, except to a pastor who might 
be acceptable to them. Believing that the time had 
come to settle a question that had more than once dis- 
turbed the peace of the church within our Conference, 
we carried the question before the chancellor. 

The chancellor issued a mandamus directing the 
trustees to open the church. By this decision it will 
appear that the character of a deed is immaterial. If 
an edifice is built for the uses and purposes of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, that building is to be 
controlled by the authorities of the church according 
to the rules and laws governing the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. The settlement of this question is of 
great importance to all loyal Methodists, inasmuch as 
preachers and people are pledged to accept any and 
every appointment fixed by the bishop. If one church 
can reject a preacher, all churches ought to enjoy the 
same privilege; and if churches may reject unaccep- 
table preachers, why may preachers not refuse to go 
to unacceptable churches? 

I ought to say that these people did not object to 
Dr. Whitecar, either as a preacher or a Christian gen- 
tleman ; the movement was simply an effort to do the 
work of a bishop. 

This resolute stand of Dr. Graw was of inestimable 
value in settling a mooted and most important ques- 
tion. Church discipline is a necessity. There must 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 21; 

be an acknowledged source of power and authority. 
The effect of this decision was widespread and salu- 
tary. 

The collection for missions again were the highest 
of any raised by a single District in the Conference — 
$6816.39. 

In referring to the liquor traffic Dr. Graw had this 
to say : 

The question of temperance is becoming more and 
more prominent in our church work. We are be- 
ginning to see that total abstinence and prohibition 
are one and inseparable with our holy Christianity. 
The dram shop is a school of vice and an open gate to 
destruction. Holiness to the Lord cannot be written 
on whiskey barrels; neither can good men promote 
the work "of the devil by supporting men and meas- 
ures in the interests of dram sellers. To save the 
church and thereby save the nation, we must destroy 
the liquor trafBc. The feet of those who have buried 
the demon, Slavery, are at the door, and they will soon 
deposit the blacker demon of intemperance in the 
same dishonored grave. One of our centennial reso- 
lutions ought to be, "That by the grace of God we will 
destroy every vestige of the liquor traffic in our 
midst." 

This resolution was offered by Drs. Ballard and 
Graw: 

Resolved, By the New Jersey Annual Conference 
now in session in Camden, that we respectfully re- 
quest the senate of the state of New Jersey not to pass 
the "Robbins Bill," which takes away from boroughs 
of the second class the power to refuse licenses. 

The vote for delegates to the General Conference 
resulted as follows: First ballot, J. B. Graw, 107; D. 



2i8 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

H. Schock, 82. Second ballot, G. B. Wight, 95. 
Fourth ballot, Wm. Walton, 83. The reserves were 
Edmund Hewitt and Dr. D. P. Kidder. The lay del- 
egates were General Fisk and B. F. Archer; W. S. 
Yard and J. W. Newlin were the reserves. 

Dr. G. K. Morris was transferred to the Philadel- 
phia Conference at this session, and J. Ward Gamble 
was transferred in from the Genesee Conference. 

The 49th session of the Conference was held in 
First Church, New Brunswick, beginning March 19, 
1885, with Bishop H. W. Warren in the chair. This 
was Dr. Graw's fourth and last year on the Camden 
District, and completed his residence of seven years 
in the city of Camden. In his report he made refer- 
ence to the death of Rev. Joseph Ashbrook, a man 
whose geniality remained with him to the end of Ufe, 
endearing him to all with whom he came in contact. 
The audience room of St. Paul Church, Atlantic City, 
had been dedicated during the year and the pastor, G. 
S. Meseroll, reported 150 probationers. The mis- 
sionary collections on the Camden District dur- 
ing Dr. Graw's administration were as follows: 1881, 
$4682; 1882, $5301 ; 1883, $6237.87; 1884, $6816.39; 
1885, $7341. The District was in excellent condition 
at the end of Dr. Graw's term, when he left it to take 
charge of the Trenton District. 

At the second day's session of the Conference Dr. 
Graw moved that a committee of three be appointed 
to solicit moneys to secure a portrait of Dr. Charles 
Pitman to be placed in the mission room at New 
York. Dr. Graw, D. P. Kidder and General Fisk 
were appointed the committee by Bishop Warren. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 219 

During this session of the Conference Dr. Graw was 
presented with a purse of gold by the preachers on 
his District. 

Dr. Graw's appointment to the Trenton District 
made a change in residence necessary and so the fam- 
ily moved to Beverly. His work in the Fisk cam- 
paign of 1886 will follow Rev. D. H. Schock's article 
on the General Conference of 1884. 



±20 LIFE AND trMES OF 



CHAPTER XXI. 

GENERAL CONFERENCE OP 1884— By REV. D. H. SCHOCK, A. M.* 

^||C Y first distinct impression of Rev. J. B. Graw 
^11^ goes back to the session of the New Jer- 
sey Annual Conference held at Lambert- 
ville, 1868. Having obtained recognition from the 
presiding officer, Bishop Scott, he proceeded to the 
chancel of the church and facing the audience deliv- 
ered a speech, on the question then pending before 
the Conference, which marked him as one who would 
in the future take no small part in the affairs of his 
Conference. Everything about him, at that time, 
pointed to leadership. His strong physique, clear 
voice, and the forceful, and transparent putting of his 
thoughts, awakened favorable comment on all sides 
of the house. He was recognized as one who must 
be taken into account in all the future work of the 
church, deliberative and executive; a man who knew 
that he had convictions, and who was not afraid to 
give them expression. 

I was associated with him as a delegate to the 
General Conference held in the city of Philadelphia 

*Rev. D. H. Schock was born in Frankford, Pa., in 1840; was 
converted in 1860 and licensed to preach in 1862. Roadstown was 
his first charge. He was twice pastor of Centenary Church, Cam- 
den, was presiding elder of the Trenton District 1881-84 and elected 
delegate to the General Conference of 1884. He also served Central 
Church, Trenton, Pitman, New Brunswick and Central Church, 
Bridgeton. Since 1891 he has held a supernumerary relation and 
resided at Island Heights. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 221 

in 1884. He led the delegation on the first ballot. 
He had obtained a position in his own Conference 
which rendered his election as a delegate both natural 
and easy. 

In this General Conference he served as a member 
on the two most important standing committees: the 
Episcopacy and Missions, and also as a member of the 
Special Committee on Temperance and Constitution- 
al Prohibition. He not only accepted the appoint- 
ment as member of these committees but also con- 
scientiously assumed the duties, being invariably 
found in his seat at the sessions of the committees 
whenever possible, taking personal interest, and active 
part in all the work of the committees. At the ses- 
sions of the General Conference his seat was rarely 
vacant, and his voice was often heard in the discus- 
sions and deliberations of that body. 

It will be seen from the reports of the proceedings 
that his position at this session of the General Con- 
ference was conservative, especially on questions re- 
lating to the polity of the church. On the question 
of Temperance and Constitutional Prohibition his 
conservatism was a quantity non est inventus. When 
the report of the Committee on Temperance was 
taken up on its passage and rushed through, as he 
thought with undue haste, he was permitted by vote 
of the Conference to record his protest against pass- 
ing so important a paper without debate. 

It was but natural that a man of his qualifications 
should be suggested for some position within the gift 
of the General Conference. He, together with four 
other members, was nominated for the position of 

14 



222 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Book Agent at New York, but the General Confer- 
ence was in no mood to make a change and the old 
officers were re-elected. 

My personal relations with Dr. Graw were of the 
most pleasant character for many years. He was to 
me a friend and brother to whom I could look for 
counsel and on whom I could depend. Associated 
with him for four years in the office of presiding elder 
I have found him true to the work, to the church and 
to his brethren. Only once did we have a misunder- 
standing, which lasted for one day and then it resulted 
in a revelation to me of his sincerity, conscientious- 
ness and Christian humility which I shall never forget. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 223 



CHAPTER XXII. 

THE 1886 FISK CAMPAIGN. 

♦H^ EFORE entering on the record of the Fisk 
IJO campaign of 1886 a brief consideration of the 
temperance doings of 1885 will be of inter- 
est. In January, 1885, some of the anti-prohibition 
newspapers charged Governor St. John with all kinds 
of evil doing; among other things they said his son, 
Harry C. St. John, voted against him because of his 
cruelty to his mother. The young man afterwards 
wrote a letter in which he fully exonerated his father 
from all blame and pronounced the slanders as ma- 
liciously false in every particular. This incident is of 
interest as illustrating the extreme intolerance and 
lack of principle of some of the politicians. 

In writing to the Gazette from Port Monmouth, 
January 20, 1885, ^^v. J. F. Sechrist has an interest- 
ing article on the good accomplished by Prohibition, 
in which he calls attention to the fact that some ad- 
miring friend had presented him with a fine St. John 
turkey at Christmas. A number of the preachers had 
been severely criticised for their activity in the cause 
of Prohibition in the St. John Campaign. Occasion- 
ally charges were made against Dr. Graw in public 
print of so definite a character as to make them 
actionable. In cases of that kind the doctor usually 
gave the offenders a chance to prove their assertions. 
In the issue of May 23, 1885, the following retraction 
by the Atlantic Review was published: 



224 LIFE AND TTMES OF 

"The article published in our issue of October, 

1884, reflecting upon the Rev. J. B. Graw, of which 
that gentleman has made considerable complaint 
against us, we have since ascertained to our entire 
satisfaction was founded upon misinformation, and 
we now do that gentleman tardy justice by fully re- 
tracting what we then said." — Atlantic Review, May 
16, 1885. 

Professor Street, in his Beverly letter, June 13, 

1885, says: "The question of granting liquor licenses 
has created considerable excitement within the past 
few weeks among all classes of citizens. It will be 
remembered that some temperance people (sic) voted 
the whiskey ticket at our last city election to spite the 
St. John men, as they said. These people no doubt 
enjoyed great satisfaction last Saturday in seeing 
some men drunk who had been sober during the time 
no licenses were granted. There were more drunk- 
en men seen on our streets Saturday night than we 
have seen for years. As a result of liquor selling and 
drunkenness there were several fights in which pistols 
and knives were freely used. One of our physicians 
extracted three bullets. But these things are open- 
ing the eyes of our people to see what 'public good' is 
sure to follow the sale of liquor. It is sad to think 
that one of the members of the council, who occupies 
an official position in one of our churches, voted for 
license and that the names of several church members 
are found on applications praying the council to 
license men who sell rum while as professed followers 
of Christ they pray, *Thy kingdom come.' " 

In the issue of July 11, 1885, there is an article on 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 225 

party organization by Thomas V. Cator, in which he 
made valuable suggestions on methods of organiza- 
tion. In referring to this article Dr. Graw said : "Mr. 
Cator is undoubtedly the best qualified man in the 
party in this state to discuss that subject." 

Dr. Graw had the highest regard for General Grant 
and in an editorial on his death in the issue of August 
I, 1885, said:. "We enjoyed the personal acquaintance 
of the general for more than twenty years. We have 
known him as the soldier, the president, the citizen, 
the companion and friend. From the first year of 
our acquaintance with him until the day of his death 
we never lost faith in him. He was maligned and 
persecuted by enemies, but never stopped to explain 
or vindicate his actions. We knew that many things 
charged against him were false and we once asked 
him why he did not reply. His answer was that 'the 
truth will come out at last.' The general was a faith- 
ful attendant at church during his summer sojourn at 
Long Branch. He seldom was absent from the Cen- 
tenary Church [of which the editor was pastor] on 
Sunday mornings. The trustees of that church up- 
holstered two pews for himself and family. He loved 
to hear Bishop Simpson and never failed to be pres- 
ent when he preached." 

The Centennial Temperance Convention held 
August 19, 1885, at Ocean City, was in charge of 
Rev. Dr. Wood. Dr. Graw opened the convention 
7.30 P. M., Wednesday, August 19, with an address. 
Rev. G. B. Wight, Mrs. S. J. C. Downs, Mrs. J. T. 
Ellis, Mrs. F. H. Carr, Dr. Geo. K. Morris and oth- 
ers also delivered addresses. 



2C^ LIFE AND TIMES OF 

A great deal of excitement was caused the latter 
part of August, 1885, when a Beverly rumseller had 
Dr. Graw arrested for alleged libel. The article 
against which the rumseller complained was so in- 
offensive that his action caused great surprise. It 
was generally regarded that his action was taken with 
an idea of intimidating the publishers from aggres- 
sive warfare against the liquor business. The article 
against which the Beverly rumseller complained was 
sent in by a correspondent and Dr. Graw did not see 
^ it until it was in print. 

The Camden Preachers' Meeting on September 7th 
took action in the matter and after considering the 
alleged libelous communication passed a resolution 
expressive of their confidence in Dr. Graw. The con- 
cluding resolutions were as follows : 

"Resolved, That we resent this apparently malicious 
effort to intimidate by unjust arrest, and to destroy 
the liberty of the press and prevent the freedom of 
speech against this most gigantic evil. 

''Resolved, That we heartily appreciate the untiring 
efforts of Dr. Graw to expose the horrible character 
of the liquor trafBc and commend his work which 
seeks its abolition." 

This paper was signed by fifty-eight preachers who 
were present at the meeting. The Beverly temper- 
ance workers also spoke out strongly in favor of the 
doctor and passed resolutions pledging the citizens 
to assist in repelling this attack on free speech and 
free press. At this meeting Rev. D. Moore, Mrs. 
S. J. C. Downs, W. C. Johnson, Herbert Jeffries and 
Professor Street made brief but pointed addresses. 



REV. J. B. GRiAW, D.D. 227 

The list of signers to the paper protesting against Dr. 
Graw's arrest was subsequently signed by sixty-seven 
more preachers, making a total of 125. 

In the fore part of 1886 there was a great deal of 
discussion on the best methods to be followed in 
order to secure Prohibition. Interesting articles on 
the subject were furnished by Dr. Chattle, Rev. Wil- 
liam H. McCormick, William H. Nicholson, Rev. G. 
R. Snyder and C. L. Parker. In the issue of Febru- 
ary 2"], 1886, in an editorial on John B. Gough, Dr. 
Graw said: "The cause of temperance and Prohibi- 
tion has lost an able and eloquent advocate in the 
death of John B. Gough. Mr. Gough was born at 
Sandygate, England, on the 27th day of August, 
181 7, and died in Philadelphia on Thursday, Febru- 
ary 1 8th, in the 69th year of his age. The last words 
of Mr. Gough just before he was stricken down by 
paralysis were, 'young man, make your record pure.' " 
It is a singular coincidence that Dr. Graw should 
also die on the i8th of February, in the 69th year of 
his age. 

The call for the Prohibition State Convention to 
nominate a candidate for governor was published in 
the issue of April 24, 1886, and signed by Clinton B. 
Fisk, state chairman. May 2.y, 1886, the State Con- 
vention met in the Grand Opera House on Washing- 
ton street, Newark, with an attendance aggregating 
over 600. General Fisk was made temporary chair- 
man of the convention and H. D. Opdyke temporary 
secretary. On being called to the chair the general 
made a brief address, which received the heartiest 
applause. David H. Bowen was made chairman of 



228 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the Committee on Credentials, Dr. Graw of the Com- 
mittee on Rules, G. R. Snyder of Resolutions Com- 
mittee and C. H. Stocking Committee on Permanent 
Organization. Addresses were made by Horace 
Waters, of New York, Rev. W. H. Boole, of Brook- 
lyn, Rev. C. H. Mead of Hornellsville, New York, 
Thomas V. Cator, Dr. Chattle and others. The Grand 
Opera House was packed at the evening meeting, 
which was called to order by General Fisk. After a 
brief address by Henry Clay Bascom of New York and 
temperance songs by Rev. C. H. Mead and WiUisford 
Dey, Dr. Graw took charge of the work of collecting 
campaign funds, and in a little while $1300 had been 
pledged. 

Rev. Dr. FitzGerald, now bishop, made the open- 
ing prayer at the second day's session. All the dele- 
gates were in favor of the nomination of General Fisk, 
but he had resolutely refused up to the last day to 
permit his name to be used in connection with the 
nomination for governor. The temporary ofificers 
were made permanent. Report of the Committee on 
Credentials gave the full quota of delegates for the 
twenty-one counties at 793 and the number present 
599. After some routine business had been trans- 
acted it was the intention to renew the collec- 
tion of campaign funds, but the nomination of Gener- 
al Fisk had been precipitated by an enthusiastic dele- 
gate and the convention went wild when the General 
in a brief speech agreed to accept the nomination. The 
collection was taken for campaign purposes and the 
fund was increased to $2500. The new State Central 
Committee was officered as follows : Chairman, T. V. 



REV. J. B. GR'AW, D.D. 229 

Cator, of Jersey City; vice-chairman. Dr. J. B. Graw; 
secretary, H. D. Opdyke; treasurer, Henry B. How- 
ell. Immediately after the convention had been held 
steps were taken to inaugurate an energetic cam- 
paign. The work of organization was pushed with 
vigor and meetings were held in every county of the 
state. General Fisk had many friends in both the old 
parties, and the news columns of the Gazette during 
the campaign gave accounts of numerous accessions 
to the party throughout various sections of the state. 
All the newspapers of the state referred to the general 
in terms indicating the profound impression his nom- 
ination had made on the public. The greatest enthu- 
siasm was manifested everywhere and for awhile it 
looked as if the general might become the next gov- 
ernor of the state. The Camden Post worked hard 
to secure the endorsement of General Fisk by the Re- 
publicans, in which movement it had the sympathy of 
the leading Republican politician in the county. Dr. 
Graw worked harder in this campaign than he ever 
did before in his entire career. In company with Rev. 
J. H. Boswell, Rev. J. W. Morris and other ministers 
he delivered addresses in Central and Southern New 
Jersey on very many occasions. The directing of 
campaign work in South Jersey very largely de- 
volved on him as the state chairman found the upper 
part of the state furnished enough work to keep him 
busy nearly all the time. There was very little un- 
pleasantness during the campaign, which was con- 
ducted with excellent judgment and temper. 
All through the summer meetings were held and pre- 
parations made to inaugurate a campaign in Septem- 



230 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ber that would shake the state from centre to circum- 
ference. General Fisk worked incessantly, speaking 
in very many towns to large audiences. There was 
tremendous activity in Monmouth and Essex coun- 
ties. The following editorial by Dr. Graw in the issue 
of August 14, 1886, illustrated the kindly spirit mani- 
fested during the campaign, which was nevertheless 
pushed with vigor all along the line : 

"There are many sincere men in the old parties who 
are anxious to do something towards advancing the 
cause of temperance and Prohibition, but they say, 
'If we vote the Prohibition ticket we will help the 
other party, and thus hinder the cause of temperance, 
rather than help it.' Is it not time that intelligent 
and thoughtful men should consider, without preju- 
dice, the relation that the liquor traffic sustains to the 
old parties? In what sense is the Republican party a 
better temperance party than the Democratic party? 
Is it because it has secured the enactment of any tem- 
perance laws during the years of its history? We are 
now speaking of New Jersey. If there is a single law 
favoring temperance that either of the old parties has 
enacted, we have failed to find it. The laws regulat- 
ing liquor-selling favor liquor-sellers more now than 
they did thirty years ago. But we are told the Re- 
publican senate again and again voted in favor of local 
option or the submission of the prohibitory amend- 
ment. Quite true, but why did not the Republicans 
in the assembly vote with the senate? Do Republi- 
cans split on other questions in this way? After an 
experience of twenty years in trying to secure local 
option or prohibition we are forced to the conclusion 



REV. J. B. GR'AW, D.D. 231 

that neither of the old parties has ever had a thought 
to help the cause of temperance by enacting laws to 
prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating 
liquors. We now see how foolish we have been to 
expect anything from parties in which liquor-sellers 
exercise a controlling power. 

''Beginning with the primary nominations liquor 
men name the candidates, dictate the platforms and 
direct the canvass. 

"In Pennsylvania the Republicans incorporated the 
submission of a prohibitory amendment to the consti- 
tution to be voted on by the people. At first this 
looked as though the party intended to adopt Prohi- 
bition as a principle, but quickly the party leaders said, 
We are not to be understood as favoring Prohibition ; 
we have agreed to do this simply to show that we 
are willing that the people shall be heard. 

"The best that can be said of this position is that it 
is one of cold indifference; that the party is willing 
to allow the people to be heard when they cannot pre- 
vent it. Does such a position commend itself to 
thoughtful temperance men when the black and 
fiendish traffic in alcoholic poison is destroying the 
young and the old every day and every hour? Are 
we, as patriots and Christians, to stand in a position of 
cold neutrality, while the blistering and burning curse 
of the liquor crime continues to do^ its deadly work? 
But the attitude of the old parties on the liquor traffic 
is not one of cold neutrality; it is one of sympathy 
with this monster crime. The rum men of Pennsyl- 
vania have not left the Republican party; they have 
been assured of safety, and therefore they rest secure- 



232 LIFE AND TI'MES OF 

ly in the embraces of a party that has no inclination to 
harm them. If the old parties are in sympathy with 
Prohibition why do they encourage law-breaking 
rum-sellers by saying Prohibition is a failure? And 
why do they criticise Prohibitionists so harshly? Why 
are we called cranks and fools? Cranks and fools we 
may be, but why is it we were praised as wise men 
and Christians a few years ago, when we were follow- 
ing in the rear of the old parties, carrying the tin cup 
and the water bucket, while the rum barons were sit- 
ting in the seats of power? We surely have as much 
wisdom as we had then. Why are we, then, abused 
now? Simply because we are now disturbing the 
party equilibrium by inserting the sharp prohibition 
wedge in a way that alarms political manipulators 
and rum bosses. We have no desire to break up 
political parties only as the death of political parties 
may be necessary to the triumph of Prohibition. If • 
the grave of a political party may become the birth- 
place of Prohibition then we are ready to help dig 
that grave. 

"True Prohibitionists do not care to create a party ; 
they only care to find a party to adopt their princi- 
ples. Prohibitionists are those who have become ful- 
ly convinced that the liquor traffic is a curse and crime 
at once disgraceful to the nation and the Christian 
civihzation of the century. Was slavery an evil? 
How much greater is the evil of intemperance? We 
have only to look around us and see how great is the 
havoc caused by the rum demon. There is no home 
in all the land that is safe from the attacks of this arch 
fiend. Fathers and mothers train their children in the 



REV. J. B. GRiAW, D.D. 233 

ways of righteousness and truth, but the state opens 
schools of vice on every corner in which our boys are 
tempted to drink the cup of devils. Our streets 
swarm with moral wrecks, and when the moral nature 
is wrecked, the intellectual and physical forces are 
equally ruined. We ask the Christian men of New 
Jersey how long this evil is to continue? Is there no 
balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Is 
there no power in Christian truth sufficient to arouse 
the church to see the enormity of this evil? 

''And is it possible Christian voters will stih contin- 
ue to stand in the way where sinners stand, and vote 
as sinners vote on the question as to whether crime 
shall be licensed and regulated or prohibited? We do 
not say that men who vote in the Hcense parties are 
sinners ; we simply say they vote with sinners to per- 
petuate a crime and sin. We have all been ignorant ; 
we have sinned ignorantly in the past, but now the 
Hght has come. 'And the times of this ignorance 
God winked at, but now commandeth all men every- 
where to repent.' Let us vote our convictions." 

The murder of Rev. George C. Haddock, of Sioux 
City, Iowa, which occurred on the night of August 3, 
1886, created a great sensation and was the cause of 
arousing the temperance people to greater activity. 
Mr. Haddock's offense consisted simply in endeavor- 
ing to enforce the Prohibition laws of Iowa. This 
tragedy served to confirm the belief of many temper- 
ance men that the only way to deal with the liquor 
traffic was to exterminate it. In this campaign Chas. 
S. Wolfe was shaking the dry bones in the old Key- 
stone state, which was gradually getting ready for 



234 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

needed reformation. During the year there was man- 
ifested a disposition not only in New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania, but in other states, to rebel against the 
tyranny of rum dominance. 

September 4, 1886, the First Congressional Dis- 
trict Convention met in Temperance Hall, Camden, 
and nominated William H. Nicholson of Haddonfield 
for Congress. General Fisk accompanied by Dr. 
Graw and Rev. E. B. Lake visited the convention hall 
and were given an ovation. In the afternoon an open- 
air meeting was held in Diamond Cottage Grove, 
Jennings Sixth Regiment Band furnishing the music. 
When the carriage containing General Fisk, Dr. 
Graw, Rev. E. B. Lake and Mrs. Lathrap arrived at 
the grounds, they were greeted with cheers and the 
waving of handkerchiefs. Addresses were made by 
Dr. Graw, Mrs. Lathrap and General Fisk, all of the 
speeches being greeted with enthusiasm. Although 
the afternoon audience was very large it was not 
nearly so great as the evening meeting. Isaac C. 
Martindale acted as chairman of this meeting and 
prayer was ofifered by Rev. J. E. Lake. General Fisk 
and Mrs. Lathrap were the speakers and they were 
given a warm reception. 

As was expected the partisan organs very quickly 
began their campaign of mud-slinging and charges of 
various kinds were made against General Fisk, but 
were disposed of as quickly as uttered. 

During the month of September State Chairman 
Cator's health was quite poor and the bulk of the 
campaign work devolved on Dr. Graw, the vice-chair- 
man. An idea of the activity manifested by the State 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 235 

Committee may be gained by reference to the list of 
speakers employed almost continually during the 
campaign, among others being: Rev. H. D. Opdyke, 
Frank C. Smith, Rev. W. H. McCormick, Rev. A. A. 
Phelps, John B. Finch, Colonel R. S. Cheves, Rev. 
C. H. Mead, Rev. W. H. Boole, as well as General 
Fisk and Dr. Graw. Meetings were held almost con- 
tinuously in the more populous sections. Rev. Dr. 
Theodore L. Cuyler, in referring to General Fisk's 
candidacy, said : "If the Republicans do not endorse 
General Fisk they have not a thimbleful of sagacity." 

General Fisk's vote reached nearly 20,000 and 
greatly enthused Prohibition workers throughout the 
state. The general ran about 3000 votes ahead of the 
ticket, which not only attested his popularity but was 
a most effective rebuke to the slanderers who had 
sought to defame his character. 

Reference has been made in preceding pages to a 
libel suit instituted by a Beverly rumseller against the 
publishers of the Gazette. Here is Dr. Graw's article 
in reference to it, taken from the issue of January i, 
1887: 

"In June, 1885, a lady residing in Beverly wrote a 
communication to the Gazette, in which she stated 
that a certain war pensioner who had been a member 
of the Reform Club, had commenced drinking again, 
and that he had spent quite a large amount of money 
for strong drink at the bar of one of the rumsellers in 
Beverly. 

"Our readers will understand the case better if we 
tell them the writer of the obnoxious article is the 
daughter of the pensioner whom she charged with 



236 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Spending his money for liquor. The writer stated 
that the rumseller took this man's money, and by 
leading him to drink had taken his character also, not 
meaning the rumseller took the man's money con- 
trary to law, but that he took the money in exchange 
for rum, and the rum made the purchaser a drunkard, 
in which way he lost his character. This is the awful 
crime which the publishers of the Gazette are charged 
with. For this they have been arrested as criminals 
and presented to the Grand Jury of Burlington coun- 
ty, and for this they were sued for $3,000 damages. 

"In September, 1885, the complaint of this rumsel- 
ler was brought to the attention of the Grand Jury. 
It is needless to say the Grand Jury ignored the com- 
plaint. The civil suit has been postponed from time 
to time, but in the December term of court it was 
brought to an issue. We were fully prepared, and 
proved every allegation by a number of unimpeached 
and unimpeachable witnesses, with the exception of 
the exact amount of money that the pensioner spent. 
The amount spent, however, was not essential, as the 
judge very properly charged. The gravaman or sub- 
stantial cause of the complaint lies in the fact that 
money was spent at the bar as charged ; how much 
was immaterial. The rumseller admitted himself that 
the pensioner referred to did spend some money, 
though not near as much as was charged. The 
prosecution utterly failed to shake the testimony 
of our witnesses in a single point, while the witnesses 
produced by the prosecution substantiated our testi- 
mony. Our attorney. Judge D. J. Pancoast, conducted 
the case in a masterly manner, and his pleading was 




Kngraving by Gatchell & Manuing, Phila. 
GEN. CLINTON B. FISK. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 239 

eloquent, convincing and unanswerable. Judge Park- 
er charged the jury in a clear, impartial and straight- 
forward way. When the case went to the jury, both 
lawyers and laymen said, the prosecution have utterly 
failed, and the jury will give a verdict in favor of the 
defendants. To the surprise of almost every one the 
jury, after dehberating for more than twenty-four 
hours, failed to agree. This gives us a substantial 
victory, and we are content. 

"The prosecution may ask for a new trial. What 
our friend, the rumseller, will do we neither know 
nor care. We are just as full of fight as ever, and if 
he wants to try his luck again we are ready to meet 
him with smiling face and drawn sword. 

"We have been urged to kick back. We shall do 
no such thing; we are fighting the battle of Prohibi- 
tion Vith malice towards none and charity for all.' 

"Leaving the Hbel suits that are past, with burn- 
ished sword and quickened pace, we shall continue to 
move towards the enemy, shouting to our fellow sol- 
diers, the sword of the Lord and Prohibition shall 
win in this tremendous struggle." 

This obituary notice is taken from the issue of Feb- 
ruary 19, 1887: "It becomes our painful duty to re- 
cord the death of Professor J. Fletcher Street, who 
has for a number of years been principal of the Farn- 
um School at Beverly. Professor Street died of 
pneumonia on Wednesday morning, February i6th, 
1887, at his home in Beverly, in the 48th year of his 
age. He leaves a widow and several children to 
mourn his loss. Professor Street was an exemplary 
and active Christian. The church of which he was a 

15 



240 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

member will keenly feel his loss. Few men pos- 
sessed such varied talents. He was a leader in almost 
every department of church work, and was equally at 
home in the business meeting, the prayer meeting and 
the Sunday school. The professor was also an earn- 
est and active temperance worker " 

The vote for excisemen at the election held in 
March, 1887, in the city of Camden, resulted in the 
success of the Republicans, who elected three of the 
members. The other two members, Dr. Louis Hat- 
ton and S. S. E. Cowperthwait, were Prohibitionists. 
The highest Republican vote was 36^^; the highest 
Prohibition vote was 2747; the highest Democratic 
vote was 2163. 

The final verdict in the Beverly libel suit created a 
great deal of amusement at the time, the jury assess- 
ing the damages at six cents. This gave General 
Fisk an opportunity to work off the following pun in 
a telegram to the Gazette: "Dear Editor: — Six cen- 
ter tyrannus. C. B. Fisk." 

Another rum murder occurred in May, 1887, when 
R. D. Gambrell, a Prohibition editor, was assassinated 
in Jacksonville, Mississippi. Mr. Gambrell had been 
a relentless foe of the liquor traffic and had shown up 
some of the dark ways of Hamilton and his gang ; 
hence the murder. Hamilton was a Democrat of the 
bitterest type. Gambrell and his father and brother 
had been Democrats until within about a year of the 
date of his murder, when they commenced the fight 
for Prohibition. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 241 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

TRENTON DISTRICT-188S-1890. 

fN the selection of Beverly as his home Dr. Graw 
was probably influenced somewhat by senti- 
mental considerations. It was at Beverly his 
regiment camped in the fall of 1861, before leaving 
for Washington in December. The old army hospital 
was located on Broad street adjoining the railroad. 
Here considerable time was spent while awaiting 
military orders, and many acquaintances were 
formed. 

At the time he was ready to move to Beverly in 
1885 there were no vacant houses, and so Dr. Graw 
built a residence at Broad and Putnam streets which 
he designed to make his permanent home. 

Dr. Graw had many friends in Beverly, but none 
whom he held in greater esteem than Prof. J. F. 
Street. The professor was at that time principal of 
Farnum Preparatory School and the leading oflcial 
man in the Methodist church. He was also an active 
Prohibition worker and was willing at all times to 
assist in efforts for the improvement of the moral wel- 
fare of the city. His death, which occurred in 1887, 
caused widespread grief throughout the community 
in which he had lived an exemplary life for many 
years. Dr. Graw's interest in the Beverly Methodist 
Church was manifested by his liberal contributions to 
assist it in times of emergency. One of the hand- 



:242 LIFE AND TPMES OF 

somest stained glass windows in the church bears 
this inscription, "Rev. J. B. Graw, D.D./*' and was 
paid for by the doctor. There were very few people in 
or out of the Beverly church who dreamed when the 
window was put in that it was so soon to become a 
memorial for the donor. 

As Dr. Graw served six years on the Trenton Dis- 
trict and had previously served four years on the old 
Burlington District, which contained a large majority 
of the charges now on the Trenton District, it will be 
seen there were many churches over which he served 
as presiding elder for ten years, when his term on the 
Trenton District was completed in the spring of 1896. 
This record is singular in many particulars and would 
probably never have been duplicated under former 
conditions. 

The semi-centennial session of the New Jersey An- 
nual Conference was held in the Commerce Street 
Church, Bridgeton, with Bishop J. F. Hurst in the 
chair. The session began March 11, 1886. 

In his first report as presiding elder of the Trenton 
District Dr. Graw advised greater care in placing in- 
surance on church properties, urged reductions in 
debt and an increase in the missionary collections. 
These extracts are interesting as illustrating the sta- 
tus of the District in 1886: 

''Our collections have advanced along the whole 
line, so far as I have been able to learn. Pastors 
would do well to work all agencies of power that the 
church places within their reach. The pastor who 
utilizes the standing committees appointed by the 
Quarterly Conference is likely to secure the largest 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 243- 

collections. The missionary collections of Trenton 
District aggregate about $6500, which is an increase 
of more than $1400, and it is the largest collection the 
District has ever raised. General C. B. Fisk, Chap- 
lain McCabe and others have rendered valuable ser- 
vices in helping our collection. Trenton District is 
on the real million-line. The million-line for missions 
has been laid in the region of the imagination rather 
than in that of facts. A brother told me that he had 
reached the second million-line, and his collection was 
just $13.00. Twenty-five years ago Bishop Morris 
asked the church to give one dollar a member for mis- 
sions, and if the membership of our church within the 
Conference would give eighty cents each the Con- 
ference would be on the real million-line. We have 
raised about eighty-five cents a member for missions 
on Trenton District. 

"While we have had no very extensive revivals on 
the District, yet the majority of our churches have 
been favored with revival influence and power. The 
pastors have wisely done their own work or secured 
the help of neighboring brethren. EvangeHsts do 
but little permanent good by their peculiar and extra- 
ordinary methods. I am fully convinced that what a 
church cannot secure under God, through its own 
pastor, it cannot hold through its own pastor. We 
need the spirit of Christian aggressiveness. While 
holding the fort as a base of operations, we should 
advance on the enemy all along the line, resolved 
never to cease fighting or call a halt until the com- 
munity in which we live is taken for Christ. We need 
the baptism of the Holy Ghost in all its richer fullness 



244 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

until every fibre of our moral being is quickened by- 
divine power. We need sanctified intellects and 
sanctified hearts. 

"In closing my first year on Trenton District I de- 
sire to acknowledge my appreciation of the courtesy 
and kindness extended to me by all the pastors and 
churches. The District was in a good condition one 
year ago, but it has grown in the graces of piety and 
liberality. I have preached three times nearly every 
Sunday in the year, besides delivering from two to 
five sermons during the week. I have been able to 
attend all my Quarterly Conferences, besides a num- 
ber of special meetings called in the interests of 
church extension." 

Bishop R. S. Foster presided at. the 51st session of 
the Conference, which was held in State Street 
Church, Trenton, beginning March 10, 1887. 

At this session Dr. Graw presented a paper from 
Dr. O'Hanlon inviting the Conference to visit Pen- 
nington Seminary. The invitation was accepted and 
Friday afternoon was fixed as the time for the visit. 
B. C. Lippincott was appointed to take charge of the 
excursion. 

In his second report as presiding elder of the Tren- 
ton District the doctor again called attention to the 
claims of the missionary society and urged the in- 
struction of children in the catechism. He said : 

"It is a matter of regret that so little interest is tak- 
en in the doctrines of our church by many who labor in 
our Sunday schools. The discipline makes it the duty 
of the preacher to catechise the children, but it is to 
be feared this duty is not always faithfully performed.'* 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 245 

He noted the completion of the churches at Bridge- 
boro, Barnegat, Forked River and Mathistown and 
the building of new parsonages at Union Street, Bur- 
lington, and Beverly. Concerning the liquor traffic 
he had this to say : 

"The extermination of the liquor traffic is com- 
ing more fully to be recognized as a work in which 
the Christian church must take a leading part. Sa- 
loons, like plague spots, are multiplying in our cities 
at a fearfully rapid rate. If the liquor traffic is not 
the sum of all villanies, it appears to be the soul of all 
evil. The greatest work of the Devil on the Ameri- 
can continent is the liquor traffic, and for this purpose 
the Son of God was manifested, that He might de- 
stroy the works of the devil. License to continue an 
evil is itself an evil; the only remedy for the liquor 
crime is Prohibition. The law prohibits other crimes 
and when the law rises to the prohibition of this 
crime, the kingdoms of this world will speedily become 
the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ. The liquor 
system is the natural enemy of the church, and the 
church is never so vigorous as when it engages its 
greatest enemy. An advancing army is always pre- 
pared for battle, while a retreating army soon loses 
courage. Although purely political questions should 
not be discussed in the pulpit, politico-moral questions 
like this must be kept before the people by our 
preachers, or our government will soon be entirely in 
the hands of the rum barons. If an enemy confronts 
us we had better force the battle while we may select 
our ground. It may be that another Red Sea lies 
before the church, and that God is saying to his min- 



246 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

isters: 'Speak to the children of Israel, that they go 
forward/ " 

At this session of the Conference memoirs were 
lead of Rev. Joseph Atwood, who was born near the 
village of Tuckerton, April 22, 1804; Samuel S. Bell- 
ville (a great grandson of Benjamin Abbot), who died 
in his 71st year; John S. Gaskill, bom July 2^, 1839; 
Edmund W. Woodward, born in Navesink, February 
10, 1845; and Gildon Elvin, born in England, Octo- 
ber 8, 1856. This year was remarkable for the num- 
ber of ministers who passed away. There were also 
four widows of preachers who died during the year. 

Dr. Graw presented this resolution during the ses- 
sion of the Conference, w^hich was adopted: "Re- 
solved, That it is the sense of this Conference that, at 
our next session, the preachers in making their reports 
should do so by reporting the assessment and amount 
raised for missions, and that whether all other collec- 
tions have been taken." 

There had been 11 83 probationers added to the 
churches of the District during the Conference year; 
all but three of the charges reporting conversions. 
The missionary collection aggregated $7190 which 
was a considerable increase on the contributions of 
the previous year — $6868. 

The 52d session of the Conference was held in 
Broadway Church, Camden, March 14, 1888, Bishop 
Cyrus D. Foss presiding. This was the year of the 
great blizzard which unfortunately made its appear- 
ance the day before Conference w^as to have con- 
vened. W. S. Barnart was elected secretary pro tern, 
and on calling the roll only sixteen members re- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 247 

sponded, nearly all of whom were residents of the 
city of Camden. On Thursday the roll call was an- 
swered by a considerably larger number and the rou- 
tine work of the Conference was begun, after the reg- 
ular secretaries had been elected. In his third report 
as presiding elder of the Trenton District, Dr. Graw 
said: 

''Church debts have been paid aggregating about 
$20,000. There are 67. churches on the District, val- 
ued at $585,000; on the churches there is a debt of 
$80,000 ; there are 29 parsonages valued at $84,000. 
* * * There have been revivals of considerable inter- 
est throughout the District and the number of pro- 
bationers will nearly reach 1200. Our missionary col- 
lection will aggregate $8095, the largest amount ever 
raised by any District in this Conf-erence.'* In clos- 
ing his report Dr. Graw paid his respects to the liquor 
trafific as follows : "While the liquor traffic remains as 
a licensed institution of the state the church will find 
abundant work in seeking to save the young and the 
old from the power of this law-enthroned demon. If 
the 7500 dram shops of New Jersey were closed we 
would need many more churches and our jails and 
prisons would be comparatively empty. In preach- 
ing to the convicts in the prison ati Trenton I re- 
quested all who were led into a criminal life through 
strong drink to lift up their hands, and fully three^ 
fourths of all present did so. * * * There is but one 
thing for the Christian church to do and that is to 
teach and preach that this great evil is a sin against 
God and a crime against the state. And while we 
accept local option as a step in the right direction yet 



248 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

following the teachings of our last General Confer- 
ence we propose to go right on to the final and com- 
plete overthrow of the liquor traffic by legal Prohibi- 
tion, as Prohibition is God's only method of dealing 
with evil." 

Dr. Lewis presented to the Conference at this ses- 
sion a book in which he had written the Minutes of 
the Philadelphia Conference from 1800 to 1836, when 
the New Jersey Conference was formed. On motion 
of Dr. Wight the record was accepted and the thanks 
of the Conference extended to the venerable donor. 
The memoirs of Rev. R. A. Chalker, Rev. Albert E. 
Rae, Rev. Samuel Jaquett and Rev. W. W. Christine 
were read at this session of the Conference. Strong 
resolutions were adopted protesting against the ex- 
tension^ of the time limit and doing away with proba- 
tion in order to church membership. Another resolu- 
tion was adopted petitioning the General Conference 
not to elect any man to office, especially that of bish- 
op, who is addicted to the use of tobacco. 

The session of the Conference in 1889 was held in 
First Church, Salem, Bishop Bowman presiding. 
During the Conference year Rev. Thomas Sovereign 
passed away in his 88th year. Mr. Sovereign was 
born in the town of Simcoe in upper Canada, Decem- 
ber 18, 1801, and joined the Philadelphia Conference 
in 1827. His first appointment was on Burlington 
Circuit as junior preacher. He was chaplain of the 
Fifth New Jersey Volunteers. He was presiding 
elder of the Newark and Bridgeton Districts and had 
served in various other offices with profit to the 
church and honor to himself. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 249 

Dr. Graw's report for the fourth year devotes con- 
siderable space to describing the situation of affairs 
at Pennington Seminary, which was reported to be in 
a flourishing condition. He reported 1300 proba- 
tioners for the District, revivals having been held in 
nearly all the churches. 

The 54th session of the Conference was held in the 
First Church, Millville, Bishop D. A. Goodsell pre- 
siding. Conference began on March 12th and con- 
tinued until the Tuesday evening following. At this 
session of the Conference D. B. Harris declined re- 
election as statistical secretary and on his motion H. 
J. Zelley was elected in his place. Rev. A. B. Rich- 
ardson was transferred in from the Wyoming Con- 
ference and stationed at Centenary Church, Camden. 
Judge J. H. Diverty, whose death occurred during the 
Conference session, is referred to in the journal, and 
a memorial resolution adopted commemorative of his 
long and valued services to the church. In his report 
of the work on his District during the year Dr. Graw 
calls attention to the fact that the Medford church is 
the ''star" church, in point of General Conference 
collections, having a membership of about 100 and 
the collections amounting to over $700; of this 
amount $450 were for the missionary society. Mis- 
sionary collections on the District that year aggre- 
gated $8575. One of the interesting features of this 
session was Dr. Buckley's semi-centennial sermon on 
Pennington Seminary, the text being from Proverbs 
18:1. 

A. E. Ballard and William Walton presented this 
resolution on temperance, which was adopted : "Re- 



250 LIFE AND TI'MES OF 

solved, That we petition the New Jersey legislature, 
now in session at Trenton, to enact the bill prepared 
by Rev. Solomon Parsons and presented by the 
Church Temperance Commission, which permits a 
majority vote of a county to prohibit licensing the 
traffic in intoxicating drink/' General Fisk, J. B. 
Graw, J. L. Sooy, A. E. Balkrd and G. B. Wight 
were appointed a Commission of Conference on Tem- 
perance to advise with similar commissions of the 
other prominent evangelical denominations of the 
state. 

The vote taken on equal lay representation in the 
General Conference was as follows : For concurrence, 
43 ; against concurrence, 1 1 8. 

Bishop FitzGerald made his first episcopal visit to 
the New Jersey Conference in 1891, presiding at the 
session beginning March iSth in Greene Street 
Church, Trenton. Dr. Graw completed his term as 
presiding elder of the Trenton District at this session 
and was appointed to First Church, Camden. 

The entire Conference was sorrowing over the 
death of General Fisk, which occurred July 9, 1891. 
For many years he had been the most prominent 
Methodist and public man in the state of New Jersey. 
He had been lay delegate from New Jersey to the 
General Conferences of 1880, 1884, and 1888, being 
the leader each time. General Fisk was born Decem- 
ber 8, 1828, in Griggsville, New York, and was en- 
gaged in the banking and insurance business until 
the war broke out, when he hastened to tender his 
services to the government. He was commissioned 
colonel of the 32d Loyal Missouri Infantry and sub- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 251 

sequently advanced to Major-General by brevet. 
Since the war he had engaged in business and had 
become very prominent in educational, philanthropic 
and religious circles. An ardent Prohibitionist he 
supported Gov. St. John in 1884, and in 1886 was the 
Prohibition candidate for governor of New Jersey, 
polling over 19,000 votes. In 1888 he was the Pro- 
hibition candidate for president, and polled over 250,- 
000 votes. Of a kindly, generous nature, he won 
friends among all denominations and parties, and his 
loss was mourned by many thousands of devoted 
associates and acquaintances. 

Dr. Graw's sixth and last report as presiding elder 
of Trenton District was, in many respects, the best 
of the entire number; 1400 conversions had taken 
place on the District and 1259 probationers added to 
the church. This timely criticism was made in his 
report and was possibly more pertinent ten years ago 
than it is to-day : **The growing tendency towards ex- 
pensive and somewhat dissipating Christmas enter- 
tainments should be studied by all earnest and spir- 
itually-minded Sunday school workers. In some 
churches it is thought impossible to commence pro- 
tracted meetings until the holiday festivities are over. 
If the one great object of the church is the salvation 
of souls, all other things should be made subordinate 
to that." In discussing the question of temperance 
he said : "All the evils that now exist are the legiti- 
mate results of the license system. Those who want 
the dram shop to continue its awful work are justified 
in voting for the men who represent the sin and crime 
of licensed wrong. But those who want the traffic in 



252 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

alcoholic liquors crushed should vote and work and 
pray for Prohibition — the only remedy — and on this 
line the battle must be fought and the victory won." 

The Conference appointed the following Commit- 
tee on Temperance to represent it at the Temperance 
Convention held in Saratoga during the summer : J. 
B. Graw, J. L. Sooy, E. C. Hancock, G. H. Neal W. 
P. Davis, J. W. Gamble, J. R. Westwood, J. W. Mor- 
ris and W. P. C. Strickland. 

At the close of this Conference Dr. Graw became 
pastor of First Church, Camden (formerly Third 
Street), and built his fourth and last church. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 253 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1888-EXTRACTS FROM DR. GRAW'S 
NEWSPAPER LETTERS. 

^Y* HE General Conference of 1888 was held in 
%A^ the city of New York. New Jersey's dele- 
gation was as follows : J. L. Sooy, J. B. Graw, 
G. B. Wight, G. L. Dobbins. Philip Cline and W. 
W. Moff ett were the reserves. The lay delegates 
were Gen. Fisk and W. H. Skirm; reserves, Dr. A. 
E. Street and J. W. Newlin. 

This Annual Conference was made notable by the 
tremendous blizzard which made its appearance the 
day before Conference. Some of the preachers ex- 
perienced great difficulty in reaching Camden in sea- 
son. Dr. Graw, along with many others, was storm 
bound, but managed to dig his way out of the snow 
banks at Crosswicks in time to report on the morn- 
ing of the second day. There were only sixteen 
present the first day. 

Dr. Graw seems to have taken a prominent part in 
the General Conference of 1888. He was chairman 
of the Committee on Church Extension, a member of 
the committees on Contested Seats and Itinerancy, 
and a manager of the Missionary Society. He also 
received 48 votes for missionary secretary. 

The General Conference of 1884 had appointed a 
Commission on Methods, "To consider what, if any, 
improvements can be made in the methods of doing 
business and the modes of administration in the pub- 



254 LIFE AND TI'MES OF 

lishing operations of the church," and to report at the 

Conference of 1888. Dr. Graw was a member of 

this important commission which was charged with a 

delicate and difficult duty. 

The following extracts are taken from Dr. Graw's 

weekly letters to the Gazette : 
* * * 

In his report to the Gazette of the preliminary pro- 
ceedings of the General Conference Dr. Graw referred 
to the contest being made to secure the admission 
of women as delegates. The names of the ladies who 
had been elected, but whose seats were challenged 
are — Frances E. Willard, of Illinois, Mrs. Lizzie 
Vankirk, of Pittsburg, Mrs. Amanda C. Rippey, of 
Kansas, and Mrs. Mary C. Ninde, of Minnesota. Af- 
ter a battle royal between the opposing forces the 
seats of the women delegates were declared vacant. 
In referring to the matter editorially Dr. Graw said : 

"The public ought to understand that the refusal 
of the General Conference to admit women to seats 
in that body is not to be understood as opposition to 
admitting them because they are women, but because 
the constitutional law of the church does not contem- 
plate the admission of women to seats in the General 
Conference." 

At this session of the General Conference the con- 
tested election cases of ex-Governor Pattison of Phil- 
adelphia and John M. Phillips of New York were de- 
cided against these gentlemen, who had been elected 
by Conferences within whose bounds they were not 
residents. The majority report of the committee 
favored the seating of the delegates, but the minority 
report was adopted. Dr. Vernon and Dr. Neely 




REV. THOS. O'HANLON, LL.D. 



REV. J. B. (^RAW, D.D. 25> 

favored the majority, and Dr. Porter and Dr. Graw 
advocated the minority report. Dr. Graw was great- 
ly impressed with the marvelous record of Bishop 
Taylor, so much so, indeed, that in his report printed 
in the Gazette of May 19, 1888, he embodied the fol- 
lowing article referring to the bishop's work : 

INTO CENTRAL AFRICA-By BISHOP TAYLOR. 

Early in 1885 I took with me to South Central 
Africa a company of over forty missionary men, 
women and children. We arrived at St. Paul de Lo- 
anda, the capital of the Portuguese province Angola 
on the 20th of March. Our objective point was the 
Tushelange country, discovered by Dr. Pogge and 
Lieutenant Weisman in 1883, some 1200 miles inland 
from Loanda. We were unavoidably detained at 
Loanda, so that it was not until the 20th of May that 
I and five of our party started for the interior, to 
select and open mission stations. 

One of our party died, and nine, including four lit- 
tle children, returned to the United States, and by 
September ist all the rest were settled in their new 
homes and fields of labor, extending inland, by the 
line of travel, 390 miles. 

The stations in their geographical order are as fol- 
lows : First, St. Paul de Loanda, where a school was 
at once opened in the Portuguese language. The 
second station, 240 miles distant, is at Dondo, a town 
of. over 5000 inhabitants. We have established a self- 
supporting day school and a large free night school. 
Our property cost us $10,000, the gift of Thomas 
C. Richlow. Our third station is Nhanguepepo, 
which is reached by a narrow path over rugged moun- 

16 



258 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

tains and hills, a distance of fifty-one miles. This is 
a receiving station where missionaries can learn the 
language of the interior. We have a building erected 
which cost $1250. Our fourth station, forty- 
nine miles further inland, is Pungo Adongo. Here 
we have erected a building costing $1000, and have 
in connection with it a school. Sixty miles further 
we reach the fifth station, Malagne, where we have 
erected comfortable houses. Here we combine 
school, farm and mechanical work with what preach- 
ing can be done in the necessarily imperfect knowl- 
edge we have of the language. 

In settHng my pioneers on that line of 150 miles 
from Dondo to Malagne, I walked the entire distance 
to and fro twice, over 600 miles. It is over a rough, 
narrow path, but it is the caravan trail of ages. On 
each side it is almost a continuous graveyard. In 1886 
I led a party as far as Stanley Pool, by the Kongo and 
Kassai rivers, but could not by any means get a pas- 
sage up the Kassai; hence I notified my co-workers 
at this end that we needed for the Upper Congo a 
steamer of our own. It is now being carried by man 
loads from Vivi to ICimpokoon Stanley Pool, a dis- 
tance of 260 miles. The EngHsh Baptist mission have 
a little steamer on the Upper Congo called the Peace. 
It does not exceed in weight more than one-fourth of 
our boat, and yet it was two years in its transit to 
Stanley Pool. Give us time and our steamer will 
reach her waters and do her work. 

In regard to self-support I may further add that in 
our plan of industrial schools there is no serious diffi- 
culty. Charles Rudolph writes me from Nhangue- 
pepo by recent mail that with a plow and two yokes 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 259 

of cattle he plows half an acre of good ground in the 
forenoon of each working day and that he takes all 
the afternoons for studying and teaching. 

We have opened in Africa altogether 36 new mis- 
sion stations. On these we have 32 mission houses 
of our own, 5 of which are not yet supplied with mis- 
sionary occupants. Five of our 32 houses, namely at 
Dondo, Nhanguepepo, Pungo Adongo, and Malagne 
in Angola and Vivi the old capital of the Congo state, 
we purchased already built. These five houses and 
the large one we built in St. Paul de Loando cost us 
an aggregate of $14,000. We have near Banana one 
small iron house, 22x24 ^^^t, costing $200. Ten 
frame houses, with weatherboard and shingle roof, 
on the west coast cost us $2500. We have eight 
houses on the west coast of galvanized iron, 30x36 
feet, costing $3200. The sum total paid for our 
buildings is about $20,000. All are paid for, so that 

we don't owe a dollar on our church property. 
* * * 

Although Dr. Graw had attended every General 
Conierence from 1872 to 1888 he admits he was sur- 
prised when the pastoral term was extended from 
three to five years. The advocates of extension had 
worked very quietly, but effectively, as the result 
showed. 

Equal representation of the laymen in the Gener- 
al Conference, which is now the law of the church, 
was then under strenuous discussion, with many able 
men of the church favoring the innovation. 

When the report of the Committee on Temperance 
was first adopted it contained this clause "to deny 
the people the privilege of protecting themselves by 



2^ LIFE AND TIMES OF 

local option legislation is the very essence of despot- 
ism, and to unreasonably refuse such hearing is just 
cause for revolution." Some of the delegates were 
unwilHng to declare themselves in favor of revolution 
under any circumstances, and the objectionable 
clause was stricken out. 

In concluding his last letter to the Gazette pub- 
lished in the issue of June 2, 1888, Dr. Graw said: 
*'The session has been remarkable in its progressive 
legislation. Very few questions presented for action 
have been set aside, and even these, with two excep- 
tions, have been referred to the Annual Conferences 
for a vote in order to secure the sense of the minis- 
ters. The total cost of the Conference will reach 
nearly $80,000." 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 261 



CHAPTER XXV. 

THE LA MONTE CAMPAIGN-1889. 

'9^ ' HE presidential campaign of 1888, in which 
d^ General Fisk was the nominee, did not result 
in as large a vote in New Jersey as had been 
expected. Nevertheless, the state workers were full 
of courage and enthusiasm and early in the spring of 
1889 rnade preparations for the gubernatorial cam- 
paign of that year. 

On June 4th the State Central Committee held a 
meeting in Trenton, which was attended by General 
Fisk, Dr. Chattle, George La Monte, Chairman Park- 
er, H. D. Opdyke, Dr. Graw, William H. Nicholson, 
Henry Johnston, Rev. Minot S. Morgan, R. J. S. 
White, W. W. Winans and other well known work- 
ers. It was unanimously resolved to nominate can- 
didates in every district, regardless of what other 
parties "may or may not do." There were forty-seven 
members of the committee present and all the coun- 
ties were represented except Cape May and Atlantic. 
It was the largest gathering of the kind held in years. 
After considerable discussion it was decided to hold 
the State Convention at Asbury Park. 

The Asbury Park Convention was held July 18-19 
and was attended by nearly 450 delegates. The 
proceedings throughout were intensely interesting 
and were at no time lacking in vigor or warmth, al- 
though the best of feeling always prevailed. The 
delegates were largely in favor of George La Monte 



262 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

for governor, but there were many who thought Dr. 
Chattle would make an ideal candidate. William H. 
Nicholson, of Camden, had he consented to permit 
the use of his name, would very likely have polled the 
solid vote of South Jersey. 

Robert J. S. White called the convention to order 
and on instruction of the State Executive Commit- 
tee named C. L. Parker as temporary chairman. 
After the usual preliminaries had been effected, 
a recess of ten minutes was declared to permit the 
counties to name their committees. Rev. W. H. 
McCormick introduced a resolution to the eflFect that 
women of the W. C. T. U. be invited to participate in 
the proceedings, which was carried. After the 
appointment of the State Central Committee the con- 
vention adjourned to meet at ten o'clock the next 
day. Dr. Graw was one of the committeemen from 
Burlington county. 

After the convention met according to announce- 
ment on the iptH, the Credential Committee made its 
report. The report of the Committee on Rules was 
also read and after discussion adopted. Permanent 
organization was effected by electing the temporary 
officers. The report of the Committee on Resolutions 
caused considerable discussion. Some of the dele- 
gates desired to introduce local option in the plat- 
form in order to answer the criticism that the party 
would accept nothing short of absolute prohibition. 
The debate was participated in by Thomas J. Kenne- 
dy, C. W. McMurran, E. P. Stites, R. J. S. White, 
Dr. Graw and many others. The so-called suffrage 
plank was also adopted finally. Dr. Graw said he 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 263 

had heretofore been strongly opposed to woman suf- 
frage, but that now he was heartily in favor of it. 
This evoked loud applause and brought the oppon- 
ents of the plank to their feet. The platform as 
adopted was practically as reported from the commit- 
tee. 

As was usually the case when the question of 
finances was under discussion Dr. Graw was called on 
to make the appeal and in a short time $1000 were 
raised for a campaign fund. 

Nominations for governor were then in order and 
Dr. Graw named William H. Nicholson, who posi- 
tively declined. D. F. Merritt, of Montclair, Joel 
W. Brown, of Jersey City, and Dr. Chattle, of Long 
Branch, were also nominated. Hunterdon, through 
Dr. Everett, nominated Mr. La Monte. This nom- 
ination was the signal for a long-continued outburst 
of applause. The vote was taken just beffore the din- 
ner hour when nearly 100 of the delegates had gone 
out for lunch, under the impression that a vote would 
not be taken until the afternoon session. The vote 
was as follows : La Monte, 269 ; Chattle, 82. There 
were a number of votes cast for the other nominees. 
Dr. Chattle moved the nomination be made unani- 
mous, which was carried with enthusiastic cheers. In 
response to repeated calls George La Monte, William 
H. Nicholson and Dr. Chattle went to the platform 
and made short addresses. 

A largely attended mass meeting was held in the 
evening. Chairman Parker presided and read this 
letter of regret from General Fisk: "It is one of the 
saddest sorrows of my life that I will not be able to be 



264 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

with you to-night." Bishop McNamara had a seat 
on the platform at the Thursday evening meeting and 
was loudly applauded when he entered the hall. Mrs. 
Clara Hoffman, of Missouri, was the speaker of the 
evening, and gave a very fine address. Mrs. S. J. C. 
Downs, state president of the W. C. T. U. was a dele- 
gate at this convention. She was greatly pleased 
with the action it took on the woman's suffrage plank 
and also with the nominee. 

Wednesday, July 24th, was Temperance Day at 
Seaville Camp and was practically a Prohibition rati- 
fication meeting. In the morning the speakers were 
Revs. J. W. Morris, J. T. Price, Dr. Gilmour and Dr. 
Graw. In the afternoon Rev. C. B. Ogden gave a 
chalk talk which delighted the old and young alike. 
At night Mrs. S. J. C. Downs and Mrs. Mary T. 
Lathrap discoursed eloquently on Prohibition. 

At the temperance camp meeting held at Ocean 
City during August, 1889, addresses were made by 
Rev. J. R. Mace, Dr. Graw and Rev. G. H. Neal. Dr. 
Graw was the preacher at the Sunday evening 
service. 

There was a great deal of activity among the Pro- 
hibitionists during this campaign. Meetings were 
held throughout the state, clubs formed and much 
literature distributed. The vote for Mr. La Monte 
would undoubtedly have been twice as large as it was 
had it not been for the fact that the Republican nom- 
inee pledged himself openly to sign any temper- 
ance bill that might be submitted to him for his con- 
sideration, if elected governor. This open pledge 
drew many to the support of the RepubHcan nomine^ 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 265 

who would otherwise have cast their ballots for Mr. 
La Monte. 

The Gazette of October 26th contained the follow- 
ing sketch of Dr. Chattle, which we reprint in full, 
chiefly because of his close relations with Dr. Graw 
for many years : 

"Dr. Thomas Green Chattle died October 21, 1889, 
from a stroke of paralysis received the preceding 
Friday night. He was the son of Rev. Joseph Chat- 
tle, deceased, but long a member of the New Jersey 
and Philadelphia Conferences of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. His mother was the eldest daugh- 
ter of Hon. Geo, W. King, of Morristown. The de- 
ceased was born at Green's Pond, Warren county, 
March 29, 1834, and was educated at Pennington 
Seminary and Dickinson College. From the latter 
institution, after graduation, he accepted a profes- 
sorship in Pennington Seminary, staying but a short 
while, when he took up his residence at Long Branch 
and commenced the practice of medicine. 

"In 1866 he was made superintendent of pubHc in- 
struction for his district, and in 1882 was made a trus- 
tee and secretary of the Board of Education, holding 
these positions up to the time of his death. His de- 
votion to the cause of education brought him into 
state and national prominence, and at all important 
gatherings of educators he has been a central and 
moving spirit. 

"From 1869 to 1880 he was president of the Long 
Branch Building and Loan Association, and for many 
years past, and up to the time of his demise, a direc- 
tor of the Long Branch Banking Company, 



2(^ LIFE AND TIMES OF 

"In the fall of 1883 he was nominated and elected 
by the Democrats of the Second Assembly district of 
Monmouth county as their representative, and in the 
following year, in view of his pronounced temper- 
ance opinions, was taken up by the Prohibitionists, 
endorsed by the Democrats and elected for a second 
term. 

"In 1885 the same coalition sent him to the state 
senate as Monmouth county's representative for 
three years. It was during his service in this capacity 
that the memorable struggle between Leon Abbett 
aind General Sewell for the United States senatorship 
took place wherein Senator Chattle, after ineffectual 
attempts to centre upon an acceptable Democrat, 
finally, in company with Democratic assemblymen, 
bolted the Democratic caucus, and, with the aid of the 
Republican minority, elected Rufus Blodgett, the 
present United States senator. His wife and eleven 
children survive him.' 

"The doctor was an active Prohibitionist, and at the 
State Conventon held in Asbury Park, was a leading 
candidate. He was a member and active worker in 
the Methodist Episcopal Church." 

Dr. Graw never lost interest in the Prohibition 
movement, but in the campaigns after 1889 he did not 
take so prominent a part as in previous years, owing 
to the fact that he had very little time at his disposal. 
Although he would not admit the fact, it was never- 
theless true that his abounding energy and vigor be- 
gan to lessen somewhat with the advance of years. 
He was still able to do a vast amount of work, but the 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 267 

demands on his strength were nearly equal to his 
natural resources at this period. He had during the 
greater part of his life borne the brunt of the battle 
for Prohibition and he now from necessity, rather 
than from choice, found it advisable to surrender the 
leadership, in part at least, to younger men who had 
more time and strength at their command. 



268 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXVL 

FIRST CHURCH, CAMDEN— 1891-1895. 

•VJY'f^ HEN Dr. Graw assumed charge of Third 
^ jLI^ Street Church in the spring of 1891 he 
found conditions quite different from 
what they were when he left the church in 1881. Since 
that time Broadway Church had forged to the front 
and become the largest society, not only in the city, 
but in the Conference as well. The constantly-in- 
creasing traf^c of the Pennsylvania Railroad had be- 
come a source of annoyance to the church and it had 
been deemed necessary to take steps to abate the nui- 
sance. Suit had been entered against the company 
to compel it to make changes in the running of trains 
which would lessen, if not remove, the annoyance. In 
the face of these augmenting difficulties the church 
had done well to even hold its own. 

The Gloucester race track question was being 
largely discussed at this time and many efforts were 
made by the reformers to inaugurate a movement 
that would. succeed in closing the place, which was 
working sad havoc among the young men of Camden 
and Philadelphia. Dr. Graw was foremost in this 
work and went to Gloucester for the purpose of se- 
curing testimony that might be used against the race 
track projprietors. The statement had been made in 
a Philadelphia newspaper that the prosecutor and his 
assistant were steady attendants at the race track; 
that one of the judges and a lay judge also ; that the 



REV. J. B. GR'AW, D.D. 269 

prosecutor had often adjourned court at one o'clock 
so as to give him time to catch the train to Glouces- 
ter, and much other matter of hke tenor. This caused 
great indignation among the better classes. The 
reform movement first originated with the Camden 
Preachers' Meeting and was afterwards ably seconded 
by ministers of other denominations, who likewise 
organized for effective work. Ex-Judge Pancoast 
was employed as counsel and arrangements were 
quickly made to begin an aggressive campaign. The 
following committee appointed by the Camden 
Preachers' Meeting had charge of the work: Dr. J. 
B. Graw, Revs. A. B. Richardson, Edmund Hewitt, 
J. L. Sooy, of Camden; and J. B. Turpin of Glouces- 
ter City. The Camden Ministerial Union also organ- 
ized and prepared for business. At the meeting held 
April 2, 1 89 1, Dr. Graw and others delivered ad- 
dresses on the best methods of procedure. Charles 
Rhoads of Haddonfield also spoke on the same line. 
A committee of three was appointed to arrange for a 
public meeting. Dr. Graw being a member of this 
committee. 

In the issue of March 7, 1891, a letter addressed to 
Governor Abbett and signed by WiUiam H. Nichol- 
son and J. B. Graw was published, in which attention 
was called to the unjust discriminations made against 
minority parties by the proposed ballot reform law. 

On Sunday, May 24, 1891, Dr. Graw assisted in 
the dedication of the new church at Hammonton. 
Such was the enthusiasm of the people the whole debt 
of $9000 was quickly raised. Dr. O'Hanlon also 



270 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

assisted the presiding elder, Milton Relyea, in the ex- 
ercises. 

There were a number of deaths of prominent min- 
isters during the year. Dr. C. H. Whitecar, born in 
Woodbury, New Jersey, September lo, 1813, died 
Feburary 18, 1892, in the 79th year of his age. He 
was one of *he most eloquent preachers the New Jer- 
sey Conference has known in all its history. Dr. D. 
P. Kidder, who was born in South Pembroke, New 
York, October 18, 181 5, died July 29, 1891. Rev. 
William E. Perry, a native of Hunterdon county. New 
Jersey, who was born in 181 5, died May 27, 1891. 
Rev. G. R. Snyder, also a native of Hunterdon county, 
who was born February 27, 1821, died January 12, 
1892. Rev. Firman Robbins, Rev. J. G. Crate, Rev. 
William C. Bowen and Rev. James F. Morell also 
passed away during this Conference year. 

Another very notable death occurred in the fall of 
1 89 1 — that of Mrs. S. J. C. Downs, who for ten years 
had been president of the State W. C. T. U. Mrs. 
Downs wasborn in Philadelphia, December 19, 1822, 
and died November 10, 1891. Dr. Graw was one of 
the speakers at the funeral services and also edited 
the memorial book, ''Life of Mrs. S. J. C. Downs." 
There have been few women in the history of this 
state who made a more lasting impression on the 
public mind and conscience. Mrs. Downs was suc- 
ceeded in the ofifice of state president by Mrs. Emma 
Bourne, of Newark, who was also a warm friend of 
Dr. Graw. 

At the session of the Conference held in 1891 M. 
E. Snyder was admitted into full connection and Ed- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 271 

ward Mount was elected elder. Both of these young 
men had been compositors in the Temperance Gazette 
office before they entered the work of the ministry. 

B. C. Lippincott, Jr., J. H. Batten and C. S. Grey had 
also been employed in the Gazette office in previous 
years. It will thus be seen that this printing office 
had been a sort ©f stepping stone to the larger and 
more responsible office of the ministry. 

The Conference of 1892 was held in the First 
Church, New Brunswick, beginning March i6th, and 
was presided over by Bishop J. H. Vincent. 

The first ballot for General Conference delegates 
resulted as follows: Thomas O'Hanlon, 102; G. B. 
Wight, 102; and J. B. Graw, loi. These were de- 
clared elected and on motion of Dr. Wight, Dr 
O'Hanlon was made the chairman of the delegation. 
James Moore and Edmund Hewitt were elected on 
the third ballot, the former receiving iii votes and 
the latter 109. D. B. Harris and George Read were 
made the reserve delegates. The laymen elected 
William H. Skirm and Dr. A. E. Street regulars, and 

C. W. Shoemaker and Dr. M. F. Middleton reserves. 
In Dr. Graw's report as pastor for the first year the 

missionary collection showed an increase and there 
were 94 probationers on the roll as against 52 for the 
preceding year. There were 701 full members re- 
ported at the Conference of 1892. 

In the summer of 1892, after considerable negotia- 
tions, the sale of the Third Street Church property 
was made to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company 
for $65,000, not including the pews, organ and pulpit. 
This was considered a very good price at the time. 



2^^ LIFE AND TIMES OF 

After the old property had been sold it became neces- 
sary to secure a new location and there was a great 
deal of trouble experienced in settling on the site. 
Dr. Graw was strongly in favor of the location which 
was finally selected, but for a long time he was unable 
to obtain the sanction of the board. No one now 
disputes the wisdom of the choice, but there were 
many who doubted it at the time. 

A Building Committee composed of D. H. Erd- 
man, president. Dr. William Shafer, secretary, Jona- 
than Duf^eld, treasurer, S. S. E. Cowperthwait, W. 
A. Davis, Samuel Robbins, F. S. Wells, W. C. Kean 
and Dr. J. B. Graw was appointed. 

During 1892 a stock company was formed to pub- 
lish the Temperance Gazette, composed > of Wm. H. 
Nicholson, of Haddonfield, Geo. La Monte, of 
Bound Brook, S. B. Goff, of Camden, Joel W. Brown, 
of Jersey City, Lewis Eckel, of Camden, Dr. Graw, 
and others. The company was dissolved February 
I, 1894, when the plant was bought by A. C. Graw. 
Previous to 1892 Dr. Graw had little to do with the 
business management of the paper, and after the sale 
of the business he only wrote occasionally for the 
editorial columns. In late years he did not write 
once a month, on the average, and this was all he 
could do, so fully was he engrossed with his duties 
as presiding elder, or as pastor of churches demand- 
ing all his time and energies. The men associated 
with Dr. Graw in the stock company were friends 
with whom he had labored in temperance work for 
many years. Mr. Nicholson is a leading and influen- 
tial member of the society of Friends ; Geo. La Monte 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 



275 



of Bound Brook, candidate for governor on the Pro- 
hibition ticket in 1889, is a prominent paper manu- 
facturer and banker; S. B. Goff, of Camden, is the 
senior member of the firm of S. B. GofT & Sons Co., 




Camden, well-knoAvn patent medicine manufacturers ; 
Joel W. Brown, of Jersey City, is president of the 
Brown. Dry Dock Co., one of the largest concerns of 
its kind in the state ; Lewis Eckel is engaged in bus- 
iness in Philadelphia but resides in Camden, 



n. 



276 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXVIL 

THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF x892-By REV- EDMUND HEW- 
ITT, D.D.* 

BT the session of the New Jersey Conference 
held in New Brunswick, March, 1892, Dr. 
Graw was elected for the sixth time a dele- 
gate to the General Conference, which met that year 
in Omaha, Nebraska. His colleagues among the 
ministers were Dr. O'Hanlon, Dr. G. B. Wight, Dr. 
James Moore, and Rev. E. Hewitt; the laymen were 
Dr. A. E. Street and Hon. W. H. Skirm. This party 
left Broad street station, Philadelphia, on Thursday, 
April 28th, and arrived in Omaha on Saturday, April 
.30th. On Monday, May 2d, the first session of the 
Conference was held. 

Boyd's Opera House had been selected by the com- 
mittee as the place in which the General Conference 
was to meet, and in that building the first session was 
held; but it was soon discovered, however, that this 
building was too small and inconvenient for the ac- 
commodation of the Conference and the large num- 
ber of visitors who desired to attend its sessions, and 

♦Rev. Edmund Hewitt, D.D., was born in Glassboro, N. J., and 
converted at the age of 13; was licensed to preach by the Heisler- 
ville Quarterly Conference; was admitted to the Conference in 1864 
and stationed at Lumberton. Dr. Hewitt has been very successful 
in revival work, debt paying and church building. He was presid- 
ing elder of the New Brunswick District in 1881-83 and succeeded 
Dr. Graw on the Bridgeton District. He has been pastor of manj^ 
of the largest churches in the Conference, and was a delegate to 
the General Conference in 189^. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 277 

the place of meeting was changed to the Exposition 
Building. This was a much larger building than the 
former, but not having been originally designed to 
accommodate such gatherings, it was not in every re- 
spect suited to the purpose. As a result of the meth- 
ods of seating delegates the New Jersey delegation 
was located near the entrance, which fact placed them 
under two disadvantages : They were so near the door 
that they were made uncomfortable by the drafts and 
in constant danger of taking cold, and they were so 
far from the platform as to make it almost impossible 
to get either the eye or ear of the presiding officer. 
The first discomfort was greatly increased by the fact 
that the month proved to be stormy and unusually 
cold. However, they were providentially preserved 
from any serious results and remained during the en- 
tire session, each member being present to answer the 
final roll-call. 

Dr. Graw's long membership in the General Con- 
ference and his familiarity with the order of business 
and methods of procedure made him a valuable advis- 
er to those members of the New Jersey delegation 
who were present for the first time, and also gave him 
a position of influence in the Conference. In the for- 
mation of committees, which is part of the organiza- 
tion of the Conference, and in which most of the real 
work of the Conference is done, Dr. Graw was as- 
signed to the following regular committees : Revisals 
and Temperance, and this special committee : Gener- 
al Conference District Boundaries. 

At the first meeting of the Committee on Revisals 
he was elected chairman, which is always considered 
a position of power and influence, and for which his 



278 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

long experience as the presiding officer in Quarterly 
Conferences and his knowledge of parliamentary laws 
well fitted him. With characteristic energy he con- 
ducted the work of this large committee with such 
precision and dispatch that they were able to present 
reports number one and two to the Conference as 
early as May 12th and the final report May 24th. 
They made in all thirty-seven reports and the work 
done was of great importance, the result of which was 
several necessary and helpful changes in the Disci- 
pline. These changes covered a wide range, including 
alterations in the form and to a slight degree in the 
substance of the law relating to local preachers, 
undergraduates in the Conference, changes in the or- 
der of business of District and Quarterly Conferences 
and also of the Annual Conference. 

As a member of the Committee on Temperance his 
natural hatred to the rum traffic, his years of leader- 
ship among the members of his own Conference, his 
position as editor of one of the leading weekly news- 
papers of his own state, and his familiarity with every 
phase of the question made him a valuable and use- 
ful member. The first report this committee pre- 
sented was a very able paper and so fully embodied 
the sentiments of the members of the General Confer- 
ence as to be unanimously adopted. It contained 
very clear and positive utterances upon the following : 
'The progress already made in the temperance re- 
form," ''the duty of the church," "the necessity of per- 
sonal abstinence," "affiliation with other organiza- 
tions," "the continuation of our attitude of relentless 
hostility toward the traffic and the trafficker," "the 
United States government and the traffic," and a 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 279 

recommendation that "all members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church who enjoy the elective franchise so 
use that solemn trust as to promote the rescue of our 
country from the guilt and dishonor which have been 
brought upon it by a criminal complicity with the 
Hquor traffic." As a result of the work of this com- 
mittee another important action was taken, as follows, 
"We recommend : 

"(i) That a permanent committee of fifteen, to be 
called the Committee on Temperance and Prohibi- 
tion, so located that a majority may conveniently as- 
semble for conference, be appointed by this General 
Conference, with power to act within the authorized 
declarations by our church to promote the following 
ends : First. The organization in every church, under 
the direction of the pastor and Quarterly Conference, 
of a Christian Temperance League, to include all 
members of the congregation willing to unite for 
practical efforts in suppressing the liquor traffic. 
Second. The aUiance of such leagues with one anoth- 
er and with similar leagues of other religious bodies 
for such particular measures in this behalf as their 
combined wisdom and Christian conscience may ap- 
prove. 

"(2) That said committee be authorized to corre- 
spond with similar committees of other churches with 
a view to an alliance of all Christian people to strive 
together for the suppression of this great evil 
throughout the country and the world. 

"(3) That said committee be authorized to propose 
a plan of action for our churches, and to invite the ap- 
pointment of auxiliary committees in all our Annual 
Conferences." 



28o LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Of this special committee Dr. Graw was made a 
member, his name standing next to that of the late 
Dr. A. J. Kynett, who, like the subject of this me- 
moir, was a firm and uncompromising enemy of the 
liquor traffic. 

That Dr. Graw had much to do with the formation 
of the report made by the Committee on Temperance 
to the General Conference, and that it fully embodied 
his views and feeUngs is seen in the somewhat remark- 
able fact that in his last report as presiding elder to 
the New Jersey Conference he uses some of the same 
language and further says, "We are not doing our 
duty in fighting the liquor traffic, and yet we are do- 
ing something; but the battle is chiefly along the 
skirmish line. The army is not yet in action. When 
I think that God is just I tremble for the nation and 
the church. Our duty as Methodists is to follow the 
flag on which the following words are inscribed : The 
Christian's only attitude toward the liquor traffic is 
that of relentless hostility." 

The minutes of the General Conference of 1892 do 
not record any lengthy speeches made by him. It was 
not a Conference in which great revolutionary 
changes in church discipline were made, or even ser- 
iously attempted, hence there was Httle occasion for 
lengthy debate, but every act of so large and influen- 
tial body, possessing as it does the power to work 
great good or incalculable harm to the church, is of 
such vast importance as to demand the constant, in- 
telligent, wide-awake attention of each member. Sit- 
ting as I did in the next seat but one to Dr. Graw I 
had a good opportunity to observe his untiring inter- 
est and close attention to details. He was never ab- 



REV. J. B. QRAW, D.D. 281 

sent from the sessions, never late, never unconcerned 
or indifferent. In tlie midst of heated discussions he 
seemed to know what motions to make at the right 
time. While as we read them now some of these 
motions may not seem to be of vital importance to 
the church, yet it is no small evidence of his interest 
and popularity in that Conference that the Journal 
shows that every motion made by him prevailed, ex- 
cept one. While he was strong in his convictions 
and outspoken in his opinions, his evident honesty 
and sincerity not only enabled him to retain his influ- 
ence with old friends but also made him many new 
ones. He was present at the last roll-call of that Con- 
ference and when it had finished its work and the 
farewells were spoken, he returned again to his place 
as pastor of First Church, Camden. 



282 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

BATTLE AGAINST THE RACE TRACK INIQUITY. 

^^^ HE Fifty-seventh session of the Conference 
l^L was held in the Mount Holly Church, begin- 
ning March 15, 1893, with Bishop J. M. Wal- 
den in the chair. 

In his report to the Conference at this session Pre- 
siding Elder Harris said : ''During the year we have 
disposed of the Third Street property to the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad Company for $65,000, and pur- 
chased ground on the corner of Sixth and Stevens 
streets, a beautiful location, upon which we are now 
erecting a magnificent edifice of stone, capacious and 
massive, which property with parsonage, when com- 
pleted will cost about $80,000. The sale of the old 
property and the purchase of the new was managed 
with great skill and care to the satisfaction of the en- 
tire membership, by Dr. Graw and the brethren of 
the committee." 

Dr. Wight, presiding elder of the Bridgeton Dis- 
trict, was sick during this session of the Conference 
and Dr. Graw was called in to look after his District. 
Of the doctor's work during that Conference too 
much cannot be said in commendation. Bishop Wal- 
den's high regard for Dr. Graw is shown in an inci- 
dent related by a prominent layman of the Confer- 
ence. A preacher had been sent to W h against 

the wishes of the official board, and after Conference 
one of the leading members interviewed the bishop at 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 283 

1018 Arch street, on March 22, 1893, and after a brief 
talk Bishop Walden said: 

"Refer this matter to Dr. Graw. He knows the 
ins and outs of the New Jersey Conference, and what- 
ever he decides upon let me know and I'll wire my 
sanction from Dover, Delaware." 

J. L. Roe was elected secretary of the Conference 
at this session and held the ofBce continuously until 
he was appointed presiding elder in 1898, a period of 
five years. 

Dr. Graw was chairman of the Committee on Race 
Track Legislation and in his report he urged all good 
citizens, regardless of party affiliations, to combine in 
an effort to overthrow the race track infamy. Drs. 
Graw, O'Hanlon and Handley were appointed a com- 
mittee to meet a similar committee from the Newark 
Conference to take steps by which the Methodism of 
New Jersey might be arrayed as a unit in opposition 
to the iniquitous race track law. At the suggestion 
of the committee an indignation meeting was held on 
Saturday afternoon to express the condemnation of 
the Conference on the manner in which the race track 
legislation was enacted. Dr. Graw was a speaker 
at the Temperance Society's anniversary and also pre- 
sided at the anniversary of the Church Extension So- 
ciety. 

Dr. Graw had charge of the camp meeting at 
Ocean City this year and was instrumental in secur- 
ing engagements with prominent clergymen in the 
denomination. He also preached on camp meeting 
Sunday at the Joanna Heights camp. He attended 
the General Conference held in Omaha this year and 



284 LIFE AND TI'MES OF 

also the National Prohibition Convention held in 
Cincinnati, being a delegate to both. A strong effort 
was made at the State Prohibition Convention, held 
in August, to secure his permission to become the 
candidate for governor. The convention strongly 
urged the doctor to stand, but he decHned to permit 
his name to be used. 

On January 9, 1893, Dr. Graw read a paper at the 
Camden Preachers' Meeting on "Parallels Between 
Slavery and the Liquor Traffic." 

An account of the destruction of the Woodstown 
M. E. Church by fire is given in the Gazette of Janu- 
ary I, 1893. The fire was caused by a defective 
heater. About $5000 insurance was carried, but 
this was not sufficient to cover the loss. Dr. Graw 
preached his last sermon in the church erected to take 
the place of the one burned by fire. 

The death of Jonathan Duffield, treasurer of the 
Building Committee of First Church, occurred Feb- 
ruary 7, 1893, and deprived the church of the services 
of a faithful and conscientious worker. 

Dr. Graw preached a sermon against the race track 
iniquity on Sunday, February 26, 1893. It was about 
this time that the race track bill was passed over the 
governor's veto, causing a storm of protest to arise 
from every section of the state. The race track men 
won at the time, but their success only intensified the 
opposition of the reformers and ultimately resulted in 
their overthrow. This was probably the most dis- 
graceful chapter in the history of New Jersey legis- 
lation. 

Mention is made in the issue of April i, 1893, of 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 285 

the death of Rev. James Rogers, which occurred 
March 26th at his home in Beverly. Mr. Rogers was 
only 46 years of age at the time of his death and was 
rated as one of the most eloquent preachers in the 
Conference. He was a sturdy Prohibitionist and 
never lost an opportunity to speak a good word for 
the cause. 

The Sunday school room of First Church, Camden, 
was opened for services June 4, 1893. Dr. S. L. Bald- 
win preached in the morning and Revs. R. S. Harris, 
W. W. Moffett and others made addresses. During 
the day subscriptions aggregating $18,600 were 
raised, including the amounts pledged in advance. 
The name of the church had been changed from 
Third Street Church to First Church before the socie- 
ty moved to its new quarters. 



LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

TRIP TO THE NORTHWEST IN 1893. 

^^^^ R. GRAW took a trip to the west and north- 
j^J west dttring July and August of 1893, and 
extracts from his letters descriptive of the 
trip are herewith given: 

"On Monday, July 24th, we left Broad Street Sta- 
tion, Philadelphia, taking the Columbian express, one 
of the finest trains on the Pennsylvania Railroad. 
* * * As we passed Johnstown there were evidences 
of the wonderful recuperative powers of American 
towns and cities. Only a few years ago this place 
was almost completely destroyed by flood, yet it now 
appears more beautiful than ever. * * * But here we 
are at Chicago. The magnitude of the Exposition 
can be imagined when we say it covers 1037 acres of 
ground, all of Jacksonville and Washington Parks, 
with an intervening 80 acres thrown in. The Paris 
Exposition of 1889 only took in 183 acres in all. Chi- 
cago is a wonderful city and the Exposition may be 
classed among the wonders of the world. We are 
glad the gates are now to be kept closed on Sunday, 
but are not disposed to thank the managers for this. 
They did not close the gates because they feared God, 
but simply because it did not pay to keep them open 
on the Lord's day." 

"En route St. Paul, July 25th.— In my last letter I 
only referred to the Chicago Exposition with the 
promise that a more extended reference would be 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 287 

made in the next letter. I made a rapid trip around 
the fair grounds with the expectation of doing it more 
thoroughly on my return. * * * The attendance thus 
far is light ; there were hardly enough people in por- 
tions of the grounds to keep one from getting lone- 
some. Those who visited the Centennial in '"jd will 
be greatly disappointed in the number and character 
of the visitors ; at least, so it seems to me. * * * We 
shall take the Northern Pacific to-night for Yellow- 
stone Park, and from there we shall move on toward 
the Pacific coast." 

"En route Bismarck, Dakota, July 27. — We left St. 
Paul, Minn., at 7.30 last night. At five A. M. we 
reached Fargo, on the Red river, 2^^ miles west of St. 
Paul. The city has a population of 10,000, and gives 
evidence of continued prosperity. Fargo is in the 
middle of the great wheat belt of Minnesota and 
Dakota. Harman Yerkes, a resident of Bordentown, 
N. J., a staunch Prohibitionist and an old subscriber 
to the Gazette, owns a large wheat farm at this point. 

"As we look at the towns and small cities along the 
railroads two things especially attract attention. 
First, the signs of beer and beer breweries everywhere 
confront us, and second, we see churches and school- 
houses. The preacher and saloon keeper pioneer 
the march of immigration. Between these forces 
there is no good fellowship; one is of God and the 
other is of the devil. The Methodist circuit rider 
keeps himself abreast of the great army of immigrants 
from the east. The peculiar policy of the Methodist 
Episcopal church makes it easier for her preachers to 
be pioneers than the preachers of any other church. 



288 LIFE A'NiD TIMES OF 

The episcopal supervision is complete through the 
presiding elders. Then the Missionary Society helps 
to support the preachers who go to the front, while 
the Church Extension Society helps to build the 
needed churches. In places where there are but few 
people and where ready money is scarce the Church 
Extension Society appropriates $250, the preacher 
and people do the work, and so the immigrant has the 
advantage at once of the church and Sunday school. 
The tendencies of pioneer life are towards barbarism 
rather than towards civilization, hence the importance 
of the refining influences of Christianity. The drink 
habit, on the contrary, debases and imbrutes those 
who indulge in it, which is clearly seen along the en- 
tire route. 

"To-day has been almost perfect. If the reader can 
imagine himself or herself swinging in a hammock 
under a broad veranda along the seashore, it will be 
easy to know something of our rest and pleasure. The 
hot wave has gone east ; the thermometer is at 70 ; the 
winds are sweeping through the windows of our Pull- 
man, the Jamestown ; the road bed is good ; the speed 
is excellent, notwithstanding our train consists of 
twelve loaded cars. The difference between our condi- 
tion here in North Dakota to-day and the seashore is : 
We have breezes from the mountains of the north and 
not from the ocean. We miss the ozone of the sea, 
but we have the pure, dry air of the mountains. We 
are more than 1600 feet above the sea level; is it any 
wonder that we are cool? We doubt whether there 
is a more comfortable train running on any eastern 
railroad to-day than this express train on the North- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 289 

ern Pacific. As we are writing we enjoy the cool 
prairie breezes free from dust and cinders, and when 
tired of writing we look out at the grazing cattle on 
the broad and rolling prairies. Just now we see a girl 
leading a horse from his grazing to the house. 

''But here we are at Bismarck, 471 miles from St. 
Paul, with its population of 4500. It is located on the 
Missouri, which, with its tributaries, gives 2000 miles 
of navigation to the northward and westward and 
about the same distance southeastward, where it joins 
the Mississippi at St. Louis. Bismarck is the capital 
of North Dakota and is a port of entry with a United 
States Deputy Collector. The surrounding land is 
arable and generally good, capable of producing al- 
most any crop needed for man or beast. Oats and 
wheat are the favorite crops, however. Some atten- 
tion is given to education here, the high school build- 
ing having cost $25,000. One bank building cost 
$60,000, another $30,000, while the court house cost 
about $30,000. There are several churches and a 
good supply of stores. But to reach the out-going 
mail we must close." 

In his letter from Yellowstone Park Dr. Graw had 
this to say concerning the natural phenomena which 
there abound : 

"The Park is a region of wonder, terror and delight. 
Here one can see tremendous geysers spout up their 
mighty fountains of water and steam, sometimes 
more than a hundred and fifty feet high. Some of 
these geysers cause the very earth to tremble by their 
violence, and others emit the strangest sounds, at 
times like the roll of thunder; again like the roar of 



290 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

breakers at the seashore, and again Hke the hissing of 
steam when a half-dozen locomotives blow off steam. 
This is the land of geysers ; there are more here than 
can be found in all the world besides. 

'The geyser formations are too wonderful for de- 
scriptions ; the waters are charged with sulphur, soda, 
lime and chalk. Some of the fountains are filled with 
boiling water of many hues. For this reason one is 
called the Paint Pot, another the Emerald, another 
the Morning Glory, another the Rainbow, and still 
another the Butterfly. The cones are also beautiful- 
ly shaped, some looking like a beautiful urn or fluted 
vase ; others look Hke huge animals, and others like 
castles or earthworks. The waters reach a tempera- 
ture of more than 200; a horse stumbled into a foun- 
tain the other day, and although drawn out quickly as 
possible, his flesh fell from the bones ; and a dog was 
thrown into another, and he perished without a strug- 
gle or a whine. The crust is so thin in some places 
that it sounds hollow as it is stepped on, and vehicles 
are not allowed to be driven over it. 

"Last night we slept more than 10,000 feet above 
the sea level. 

"The Rocky Mountain sides also are a wonder. 
Some of these great walls remind one of ancient cas- 
tle walls ; of rock-faced ruble work that has stood for 
ages. Most of the rocks have a yellow tinge, as also 
do the trees, and even mosses that we crush beneath 
our feet. As we stand in the valleys or ascend to the 
foot hills, we see mountains towering above the 
clouds that float around their rugged summits, and 
when we reach the summits of these mountains we 





.«» 




^f^^'^*. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 293 

see the ''Snowy Range" still beyond us. Where we 
now are we can see scores of spouting geysers as well 
as numerous fountains filled with boiling and seeth- 
ing waters, the sounds of which remind us of the 
noises heard near a railroad yard where many loco- 
motives are blowing off steam. And yet, from this 
very spot we can see the higher mountain peaks cov- 
ered with snow. To think that we are in sight of 
midwinter and midsummer at the same moment! 
Our surroundings are strange, but then we are now 
sitting just two miles above most of those who will 
read this letter. 

''There is a river here called Hot Hole river, into 
which the boiling waters of many geysers flow, and 
not many miles away is Gibbon river, whose waters 
are almost as cold as ice. Then there is the clear and 
beautiful Yellowstone in which are found the most 
beautiful trout that anglers have ever drawn from the 
water. The Park also abounds in wild animals. Here 
can be seen the buffalo, the bear, the mountain lion, 
elk and moose. We have seen the black bear on sev- 
eral occasions, but we have not as yet seen the cinna- 
mon bear, who is here classed with the grizzleys ; we 
have not been hunting the latter class. The black 
bear, though large, is generally harmless, unless it be 
in the month of June. No game of any kind can be 
shot within the Park; hence we have now about 1200 
buffaloes and countless numbers of bears and deer. 
Two companies of the 6th Cavalry are stationed here 
to enforce the laws. 

"There is no liquor sold within the Park. The Sec- 
retary of the Interior, under whose control the Park 

18 



294 LIFE A'ND TIMES OF 

is placed, prohibits the sale of liquor, and consequent- 
ly no drunken men are seen." 

After leaving the Yellowstone Park Dr. Graw pro- 
ceeded to Puget Sound and then made his way south- 
ward to Portland, Oregon, and thence to San Fran- 
cisco. On his trip southward from Portland, Dr. 
Graw wrote this graphic description of the journey: 

"But we cannot tarry longer in Portland and so 
must leave quickly. As we want to see all that is 
grand and beautiful in this country we take the scenic 
Shasta route. This road was completed in Decem- 
ber, 1887, and it is said the projectors had spent ten 
years in deliberating on the possibilities of construct- 
ing a railroad over mountains and through canyons 
that were Hke mighty giants in the path of enterprise. 
We wish we could give to our readers a map of the 
mountains, whose rocky sides we were compelled to 
crawl up. At one point there were four parallel 
tracks from the foothills to the elevation that we 
reached, which means that it was necessary for us to 
wind around that mountain side four times before we 
reached the summit. Grander and wilder scenery is 
nowhere to be found than that of the Shasta Route. 
At the beginning of the ascent the observation car 
was put on, and after six hours it was taken off. This 
means that we had six hours of wonder sights. Two 
of the largest locomotives, like great giants, pulled our 
train along the steep grades of the mountain sides. 
Sometimes we were on trestles; then we thundered 
through tunnels; then we seemed to cling to the 
mountain side, as moss clings to the rock." 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 295 



CHAPTER XXX. 

DEDICATION OF FIRST CHURCH, CAMDEN. 

^y^ HERE is an interesting history connected with 
\J\^ the chime of bells in the tower of First 
Church, Camden. This chime was used at 
the centennial celebration of the laying of the cor- 
nerstone of the capitol building, Washington, D. C. 
It is composed of thirteen bells typifying the original 
thirteen states. The largest bell of the chime weighs 
3023 pounds and the smallest about 2200. They 
had been pronounced the finest chime in the United 
States. This is the inscription on the largest bell: 
'This set of chimes is presented to the First Metho- 
dist Church, Camden, N. J., by George Holl, in 
memory of his father and mother, J. George Holl and 
Catharine Thackara Holl, September 8, 1893." 

Dr. Graw was very much pressed with work at this 
time and in writing to Dr. Buckley asking him to 
preach on dedication Sunday he made a mistake in 
the year in dating his letter, making it 1897 instead of 
1893, which gave Dr. Buckley an opportunity to make 
a characteristic rejoinder. We give below Dr. Graw's 
letter and Dr. Buckley's answer thereto : 

Camden, N. J., Oct. 7, 1897. 
Dear Bro. Buckley:— Will you preach at our dedication on Sun- 
day, October 22? The notice is short but I could not say definite- 
ly until now about the exact date. As I have Bishop Andrews for 
the morning we want you for the night, and will give you a 
crowded house and as fine a church as you have seen for some 
time. Come if at all possible. Answer by telegraph at my expense. 

Yours sincerely, 

J. B. GRAW. 



2^^ r" LIFE AN'D TIMES OF 

EDITORIAL ROOMS OP 
THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. 

New York, October 27, 1893. 
Dear Dr. Graw:— I always knew you were a thoroughly pro- 
gressive man; I have felt too that I lagged behind you. But to 
discover myself to be fully four years in the rear, shows indeed 
that I "lag superfluous on the stage!" Note the date of your letter 
enclosed. 

When that date finally comes in my slower calendar, may you 
and I both be living where dates and years are noticed, if it be 
the will of God. Yours sincerely, 

J. M. BUCKLEY, 

The dedication of First Church took place Sunday, 
October 22, 1893. All the services were attended by 
immense audiences. Bishop Andrews preached in 
the morning, Dr. Moffett and Presiding Elder Harris 
spoke at the platform meeting in the afternoon and 
Dr. J. M. Buckley preached at night. Over $10,000 
were raised on subscription. 

Eighteen ninety-three had been a very busy year 
owing to work incident to the completion of the new 
church. A revival in which 115 probationers were 
added to the church gave great encouragement to 
pastor and people. As was anticipated the financial 
strain caused by the demands made for building pur- 
poses caused a slight falling off in the missionary col- 
lection. 

During January of 1894 the tragic death of Rev. 
Henry N. Cheesman occurred. Mr. Cheesman, ow- 
ing to incessant application to work, had undermined 
his health to such an extent that for a time his mind 
became unbalanced. While in this condition he 
jumped from a ferry boat and was drowned January 
8, 1894. Mr. Cheesman was justly regarded as one 
of the most promising young men in the Conference. 

Bishop Andrews presided at the session of the Con- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 297 

ference held in the Broadway Church, beginning 
March 14, 1894. B. C. Lippincott and Dr. Graw in- 
troduced a resolution urging the passage of a law to 
secure scientific temperance instruction in the pubhc 
schools. Dr. Graw was one of the speakers at the 
anniversary of the Conference Temperance Society. 
Addresses were also delivered by Dr. Kynett and B. 
C. Lippincott. The meeting was largely attended 
and very enthusiastic. The question of equal minis- 
terial and lay representation was discussed at this ses- 
sion of the Conference. The vote on equal represen- 
tation was as follows: For, 16; against, 121. 

Dr. Graw had strongly opposed the high-license 
movement in the city of Camden. The claim of the 
high-license advocates that it would reduce the num- 
ber of saloons has been disproven by the facts in the 
case. In 1894 the W. C. T. U. of the city of Camden 
urged the passage of an ordinance increasing the fee 
to $500. Although the increase in the license fee was 
made, it had not resulted in diminishing the number 
of saloons or improving their character. A meeting 
was held in the City Hall during June, 1894, for the 
purpose of protesting against any increase in the num- 
ber of saloons and urging a stronger enforcement of 
the law. Remonstrances were made against a num- 
ber of saloons, and addresses were made by Frank 
Lloyd, Mrs. L C. Wynn, Rev. J. H. Scott, Dr. A. G. 
Lawson, Walter M. Patton, Thomas Hollingshed, 
Rev. W. G. Russel, Rev. J. F. Shaw and Dr. Graw. 
The doctor was not one of the announced speakers, 
but made an address in response to repeated calls 
from the audience. In reporting this meeting the 



298 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

doctor said : "We believe our friends have made a mis- 
take in asking for a $500 fee. The additional $200 will 
act as an opiate to many an uneasy conscience and 
will serve to strengthen the claim that license money 
is a big factor in running the city government. It is 
to practically endorse the high-license principle." 

Dr. Graw was one of the speakers at the laying of 
the cornerstone of the Asbury Methodist Episcopal 
Church, North Long Branch, June 25, 1894. Presid- 
ing Elder Strickland and the pastor, George S. Mes- 
eroll, also made addresses. He lectured on the "Won- 
derland of America" in Simpson Church, Long 
Branch, on Monday evening, August 13th. This lec- 
ture was replete with incidents which occurred during 
his trip to the World's Fair, state of Washington, 
California and Utah, taken the previous year, and 
which has been referred to in preceding pages. He 
also lectured in the Cinnaminson Church on his "Trip 
to the Pacific Coast" in December, 1894, and at many 
other places throughout the state. 

In the spring of 1895 Dr. Graw had a very serious 
spell of sickness which made an operation necessary 
and from which he was a considerable time in recover- 
ing. It is doubtful if he ever fully recovered from 
the effects of this sickness, which was much more 
acute than was surmised by even his most intimate 
friends. The doctor attended church the first time 
after his sickness on Sunday, February 3, 1895. Dr. 
O'Hanlon preached both morning and evening that 
day. 

At the Prohibition banquet held in the city of Cam- 
den, February, 1895, William H. Nicholson offered 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 299 

this resolution which was unanimously adopted: 
^'Whereas, Rev. J. B. Graw, D.D., who for years has 
been a champion of our cause in New Jersey is absent 
from our midst by severe illness : Resolved, That we 
extend our heartiest sympathy to him in his illness and 
hope he may soon be able to resume his responsible 
work, and deal the old time blows against the liquor 
traffic." 

The Conference of 1895 began March 20th in 
Broad Street Church, Burlington, with Bishop S. M. 
Merrill in the chair. Dr.^ Graw was appointed by 
Bishop Merrill to preside at the sessions held Fri- 
day afternoon and Monday afternoon. It was at 
this session of the Conference that J. J. Graw, his 
brother, was changed from effective to superannuate. 
Presiding Elder Harris, in his report at this session 
of the Conference, said :, "First Church, Camden, has 
paid $5500 on the debt and her membership has 
steadily increased." Dr. Graw reported 43 proba- 
tioners for the Conference year. 

In the issue of the Gazette of April 20, 1895, Dr. 
Graw had this obituary notice of Rev. Dr. Lewis: 
''Rev. Jefferson Lewis, D.D., the oldest member of 
the New Jersey Conference, was buried last Monday. 
He was 90 years of age. Dr. Lewis joined the Con- 
ference in 1830, when it was a part of the Philadel- 
phia Conference. The next in seniority. Rev. A. K, 
Street, joined a year later, but the third. Rev. Geo. 
Hitchens, became a member in 1837. Dr. Lewis 
occupied many of the largest churches in the state, 
and was secretary of the Conference for fourteen 
years. He was an able preacher and in his prime was 
a leader in the Conference." 



300 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

On April 29, 1895, Dr. Graw addressed the Cam- 
den Preachers' Meeting on the topic : "The Principles 
that should govern in making the Conference Ap- 
pointments." After Dr. Graw had made his address 
he was followed in remarks by J. W. Morris, Ed- 
mund Hewitt, S. S. Weatherby, J. R. Thompson and 
W. F. Herr. 

In May Dr. Graw made a trip to Harriman, Ten- 
nessee, to visit that flourishing Prohibition town. 
While there he visited the American Temperance 
University. 

In July, 1895, an open-air meeting was held in front 
of First Church, Camden, which was addressed by 
Colonel Scovel. The salvation army had charge of 
the music, the entire services being conducted by the 
Epworth League. The colonel delivered an excel- 
lent address. Dr. Graw preached at Malaga Camp 
Sunday, August 15, 1895. At the session of the 
Camden Preachers' Meeting held December 2;^, 1895, 
Dr. Graw gave some of his experiences in the battle 
of Fredericksburg. 

Dr. Graw's report of work done during 1895 gave 
the following interesting statistics : Number of proba- 
tioners, 150; full members, 890; missionary collection, 
$y6^ ; paid on church indebtedness, $5000. 

Bishop Isaac W. Joyce presided at the 60th session 
of the Conference which was held in Central Church, 
Bridgeton, beginning March 11, 1896. Dr. Graw's 
pastorate at First Church closed at this session of the 
Conference. The election for delegates to the Gen- 
eral Conference resulted as follows: J. B. Graw, 122; 
J. R. Mace, 95. These were elected on the first bal- 
lot; G. B. Wight was elected on the second bal- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 301 

lot; J. L. Roe and George Reed on the third. Dr. 
O'Hanlon and W. P. C. Strickland were the alter- 
nates. This was the second highest vote Dr. Graw 
received as delegate to the General Conference. In 
1900 he received 123 votes, which was the highest. 
Dr. Graw presided at the Monday afternoon session 
of the Conference by appointment of the bishop. 
Bishop Joyce's presidency was very much enjoyed by 
the preachers as well as the people, this being his first 
episcopal visit to the Conference. 

Dr. Graw was appointed to the pastorate of First 
Church, Trenton, at this session of the Conference. 
For twelve years he had resided in the city of Camden 
— three years as pastor of Third Street Church, four 
years as presiding elder of the Camden District and 
five years as pastor of First Church. During these 
twelve years he had enjoyed the companionship of 
friends with whom he had become acquainted while 
on the first year of his pastorate at Third Street. Of 
course, many had removed or died during these 
twelve years, but there still remained a goodly num- 
ber at the time of his departure for Trenton. It was, 
therefore, with sincere regret the family left the city 
which had been their home for so many years. 



302 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1896-By REV, G. B. WIGHT, D.D.* 

^^ HE General Conference of 1896, held in Cleve- 
^^ land, Ohio, was the seventh consecutive Con- 
ference of which Dr. Graw was a member, 
and the fifth in which the writer had been associated 
with him. But few delegates of that Conference 
equalled him in his term of service, and he became at 
once a prominent and an interesting character in it. 
Thoroughlyi known to all, and thoroughly familiar 
with the routine of work, and an excellent parliamen- 
tarian, it was not surprising that he should have ex- 
erted great influence over the Conference. 

As usual, he was chairman of the New Jersey Con- 
ference delegation, which, by an unwritten law, made 
him a member of the Committee on Episcopacy, the 
most important of all the standing committees of the 
General Conference, and a position greatly coveted 
by the delegates. It has to deal with the character 

*Rev. Geo. B. Wight, D.D., was born in Randolph, Mass. (a 
suburb of Boston) October 14, 1841; converted in the Laight Street 
Baptist Church, New York City, in 1857; licensed to preach in 1865 
by the Quarterly Conference of Milltown Church, Rev. Jesse Stiles, 
pastor; joined the Conference in 18S6. Englishtown was his first 
appointment. He has served the largest churches in the Confer- 
ence—Broadway and First Churches, Camden; First Church, Tren- 
ton, and First Church, Millville, Dr. Wight is a veteran of the 
war of 1861 and always wears the G. A. R. button. He was sec- 
retary of the Conference for 19 consecutive years, was a member 
of the General Conferences of 1880, 1884, 1888, 1892 and 1896, and pre- 
ceded Dr. Graw as presiding elder of the Bridgeton District. He 
has also held important offices in connection with the general 
work of the church. 




REV. G. B. WIGHT. D.D. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 303 

and work of the bishops, inquiring into any com- 
plaints against their character or administration, and 
into their physical ability to perform the duties as- 
signed them by the church. In the discharge of this 
duty delicate questions sometimes arise which require 
the thoughtful consideration and the brotherly appre- 
ciation of the committee. Into this work Dr. Graw 
brought all the kindliness of his nature; he believed 
in our episcopacy, he believed in our bishops, all of 
whom were his personal friends, and most of whom 
he had aided in elevating to their high office. As he 
had been a member of the episcopal committee at 
several previous General Conferences, he was par- 
ticularly fitted to consider the important questions 
which would come before the committee at the Gen- 
eral Conference of 1896. Prior to this time the ques- 
tion of retiring bishops as non-effective in conse- 
quence of ill health and their infirmities had not been 
fully determined by the General Conference. This 
committee clearly afifirmed the right and duty of the 
General Conference to do this when it was deemed 
necessary, and recommended on account of age and 
infirmities, the retirement of two of its beloved bish- 
ops, and of its great missionary bishop to Africa. 
This action, sustained by the General Conference, 
commanded Dr. Graw's hearty approval, though he 
deeply sympathized with the bishops. It seems to us 
now a question of small moment, but it had disturbed 
the minds of our leading church legislators for a num- 
ber of years, and while the action of the committee 
and of the General Conference was much criticized 
throughout the denomination at the time, it is now 
conceded it was just and proper. 



304 LIFE AN'D TIMES OF 

The church as well as the General Conference had 
been agitated for a number of years over the eligibil- 
ity of women to membership in the General Confer- 
ence. Those favoring such eligibility contended 
that the admission of laymen in 1872 included of 
course the eligibility of women without further legis- 
lation; while those opposed declared that when the 
General Conference of 1872 admitted laymen, the ad- 
mission of women was not only not contemplated, 
but was repeatedly disclaimed by those favoring the 
change. 

At the General Conference of 1888, after much 
contention it was decided that women were not eHgi- 
ble to membership, and in 1892 the General Confer- 
ence allowed that decision to stand. At the General 
Conference of 1896 four ladies presented credentials 
of election as delegates, and their names had been put 
upon the roll and called by the secretary, every one 
of them responding as present. At the first day's 
session of that Conference, the right of these women 
was challenged by nine of the prominent members of 
the General Conference, Dr. Graw's name following 
Dr. Buckley's, as second on the list. He was stren- 
uously opposed to their admission, but from repeated 
conversations with him the writer is satisfied that his 
opposition was not so much against the admission of 
women, if the law should be so changed as to permit 
it, as it was against their admission under the existing 
law of the church. He did not doubt the loyalty of 
women to the church, nor their ability to properly 
represent it in its councils, but his contention was 
that before they should be admitted, the discipline of 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 305 

the church should be so changed as to clearly per- 
mit it. 

At this General Conference Dn Graw was also a 
member of the Committee on Sunday School Publi- 
cations and Tracts. While not so important as the 
Committee on Episcopacy, as it had to do largely with 
the hterature placed in the hands of Sunday school 
children, and the young people of the church, it was 
an important committee and he gave it all the atten- 
tion possible. In addition to this he was a member 
of a Special Committee on Temperance and Prohibi- 
tion, a question with which he was entirely familiar, 
and which had long commanded his earnest thought 
and his hearty activities. 

Dr. Graw was always careful to attend to his duties 
as delegate to the General Conference. It would 
have been an easy matter for him to have absented 
himself occasionally, from a committee, and after the 
fatigue of a morning session, it would be very desira- 
ble to rest in the afternoon, or to visit the places of 
interest in the cities where the General Conference 
was held, or to enjoy driving through their beautiful 
avenues and parks, contenting himself with the 
thought that others on the committees would look 
after the matters referred to them by the General 
Conference. But this was not Dr. Graw's way of 
working. He closely and carefully attended to his 
duties on the respective committees to which he was 
assigned. He was familiar with the proposed legis- 
lation, or amendments to the discipline suggested in 
these committees, and was prepared to defend the 
action of the committee and promote their conclu- 



3o6 LIFE AN'D TIMES OF 

sions on the floor of the General Conference. But 
he was not only familiar with the questions coming 
before his own committees; he carefully read the 
Daily Advocate, noting what propositions had been 
referred to other standing committees. Upon all of 
these great questions he had decided convictions, the 
result of long and close thought, and it was surpris- 
ing to notice how fully acquainted he was with all 
those proposed measures, when they were presented 
to the General Conference. If in his judgment 
amendments were needed, he was not slow to oiifer 
such amendments, and his voice and vote were always 
to preserve intact the settled and tried usages of the 
church. Attempts to strike out Paragraph 248 re- 
lating to amusements, had been made at several Gen- 
eral Conferences, but it seemed to take more decided 
shape in 1896 than it had previously, and while Dr. 
Graw did not favor that change in the discipline, 
which it was now sought to repeal, he strenuously op- 
posed any alteration of the paragraph in question, 
because it would be misunderstood by the church, 
and we think the best sentiment of the church is in 
harmony with that view of the case. Another mat- 
ter of dispute in several General Conferences had 
been the requiring of the preachers to publicly report 
in their Annual Conferences the amounts which they 
had raised for certain benevolences. This was a 
popular movement, of course, with the secretaries 
representing the various connectional interests of the 
church. It was natural that they should desire to 
employ every means by which the collections could 
be increased, but Dr. Graw contended that this was 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 307 

putting an improper compulsion, on the ministry. He 
recognized the fact that every preacher was in honor 
bound to carefully and faithfully present the various 
interests to his congregation, but he did not like the 
compulsion which such public reporting seemed to 
include. To use his own expression, which is since 
current in the denomination, "it was compelling the 
preacher to report at the point of the bayonet." This 
effort was renewed in the General Conference of 1896 
and again elicited from Dr. Graw his dissent in a vig- 
orous speech, which brought ringing applause from 
the delegates. We are inclined to think no public 
attempt has since been made in the General Confer- 
ence to secure such reporting of collections. 

Dr. Graw also vigorously opposed the removal of 
the time limit, as he had opposed its extension from 
three to five years. The attempts to remove the Hm- 
it were not very pronounced in the Conference of 
1896, because it was evident that a large majority of 
the delegates were averse to such action. Many who 
were present at the later sessions of that General Con- 
ference perhaps will recall that a brother, a pro- 
nounced advocate of the removal of the time limit, 
moved to strike out certain portions of the report of 
the Committee on Itinerancy. The motion seemed 
simple enough, but a few of the delegates, among 
whom was Dr. Graw, ever on the alert, discovered 
that such action would carry with it the time limit. 
A protest was immediately raised and the writer now 
thinks, as far as his memory goes, that a call of the 
house discovered the absence of a constitutional 
quorum and the movement failed, but perhaps it 



3o8 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

would have failed any way had a vote been taken by 
the few who were present. 

The General Conference of 1896 was an impor- 
tant one, and Dr. J. B. Graw was an earnest, faithful, 
and conscientious member. His Conference and the 
entire church may well be proud of his record in it. 




FIRST CHURCH, TRENTON. N. J., 

of which Dr. J. B. Graw was pastor in 1896 

and 1897. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 311 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

FIRST CHURCH, TRENTON- 1895-1897. 

^^^ HE first preacher of Methodism in Trenton was 
^L Rev. Geo. Whitefield (see sketch page 75). 
His own journal of November 12, 1739, says: 
''By eight o'clock we reached Trent-town, in the Jer- 
seys. It being dark we went out of our way a little 
in the woods, but God sent a guide to direct us aright. 
iWe had a comfortable refreshment when we reached 
our inn, and went to bed in peace and joy in the Holy 
Ghost. We left town early next .morning." After 
preaching in the neighborhood he returned to Tren- 
ton and preached in the courthouse November 21, 
1 739- The building is still standing and is owned and 
occupied by the Trenton Banking Company. He 
was there again in 1740 and August 15, September 
12, 13 and 14, 1754. — From Stevens, Vol. i, page 
100. 

In 1779 Rev. Joseph Fillmore wrote in his journal: 
"Went on as far as Trenton, where I stopped to visit 
the society. In the evening I preached in the new 
Methodist chapel. It was 30x35 feet, frame, and was 
finished with doors and glass windows." 

Old John Street Church (see engraving, pagfe 34),, 
was built in 1 768, and is the oldest church in America. 
About 1770 Robert Strawbridge erected a log preach- 
ing house in Maryland. The Fhiladelphia Society 
was formed about 1770. The earliest date of an or- 
ganized society of Methodists in New Jersey is be- 

19 



312 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

lieved to be that of the Trenton Society. A receipt 
for class money paid by Joseph Toy, dated April 19, 

1772, and issued by the Trenton Methodist Church, 
is still in existence. "The list of subscribers for build- 
ing a Methodist preaching house in Trenton, Novem- 
ber 25, 1772," contained 122 names. The deed for 
the lot is dated July 28, 1773. 

The first Conference held in New Jersey was held 
in Trenton, May 23, 1789, both Bishops Coke and 
Asbury being present. Bishop Asbury died March 
21, 1 81 6, aged 71 years, 55 of which were spent in 
the ministry and 45 in America. In his journal he 
mentions 25 visits to Trenton. 

The first Methodist church building was erected in 

1773, the second in 1806, the third (old Greene Street 
Church) in 1838, and the fourth (the present building) 
in 1894. There are now eleven Methodist churches 
in Trenton, of which any "mother church" might just- 
ly be proud, viz: Central, established 1865; State 
Street, 1859; Wesley, 1851; Trinity, 1846; Warren 
Street, 1857; Clinton Avenue, 1852; Broad Street, 
1864; Hamilton Avenue, 1872; St. Paul, 1890; Broad 
Street Park, 1894, and Chambers Street. 

When Dr. Graw assumed the pastorate of First 
Church, Trenton, it was with a weighty sense of re- 
sponsibility. Since his term at Long Branch, 1868- 
70, he had served as pastor of only one church (Third 
Street, Camden). He had been very successful in 
that charge, but would he be equally so elsewhere? 
The doctor was 64 when he went to First Church, 
Trenton, and this put him about 14 years over the 
"dead line," as reckoned by some. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 313 

First Church, Trenton, is a most responsible 
charge. It is near to three of the largest Methodist 
churches in the city, and the pastor must preach well 
and wear well to hold his own. He must be up-to- 
date in every particular or else run the chance of see- 
ing his congregation grow smaller and beautifully 
Jess by degrees. 

This condition is brought about by the keenness 
of the competition, and it is doubtful if there are 
many cities of near the size of Trenton which are uni- 
formly supplied with so high a grade of Methodistic 
talent. 

Dr. Graw took hold of the work with his accus- 
tomed skill and energy. He preached old-fashioned 
Methodism in a way that attracted the people. A 
feeling of kindly co-operation soon sprung up between 
pastor and people and helped greatly in the further- 
ance of the work. The first year 22 probationers were 
reported, and 16 the second. The spiritual tone of 
the church improved and the membership became 
better fitted for effective work. 

On his eighth election to the General Conference 
in 1900 the doctor had the pleasure of having one of 
his former oiBcial members. Gen. Wm. H. Skirm, to 
accompany him to Chicago as leader of the lay dele- 
gation. While in Chicago a group photograph was 
taken with Dr. Graw in the center, James L. Hays, of 
Newark, on the left, and Gen. Skirm on the right. An 
engraving from that photograph is considered one of 
the best in this book. 

In December, 1897, First Church issued a souvenir 
historical edition of the Epworth Advocate, consist- 



314 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ing of 20 pages and cover. It was handsomely got- 
ten up, and was an artistic as well as financial success. 
Dr. Graw wrote a number of articles for this paper, 
two of which we give herewith : 

HOW MEN GO INTO BATTLE. 

It is not always easy to determine how men will go 
into battle. Sometimes men who have entered into 
battle cooly and heroically will become at another 
time panic stricken without any apparent cause. 

On one occasion our division was marching 
through the woods in three columns. The enemy 
was not within five miles of us, and yet one column 
broke and ran in the wildest confusion, simply be- 
cause the horse of an officer became unmanageable 
and ran toward this column through the bushes. The 
men for the moment imagined that the "rebs" were 
after them in force. Later on, at the battle of Cold 
Harbor, these men stood firmly under a withering fire 
and fought like demons to retain their flag. 

Just before the battle of Fredericksburg our soldiers 
crossed the Rappahannock on pontoons under a de- 
structive fire; it was a wonderful sight to see these 
men march into the very jaws of death, while at some 
points the river ran red with blood. I shall never for- 
get that wonderful December day when that long line 
of "boys in blue" followed the flag with unfaltering: 
step, although a deadly fire was poured upon them by 
the enemy. At the battle of South Mountain a Ger- 
man soldier who had always displayed great bravery 
exclaimed, "This is a bad place for a poor Germaa 
man who has left a wife and six children at home." 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 315 

WHEN THE WAR BEGAN. 

Some incidents of an amusing character occurred 
in connection with recruiting soldiers at the com- 
mencement of the war. I was largely instrumental in 
recruiting the Tenth Regiment of infantry. 

In passing through the lower part of Cumberland 
county with one or two officers I saw a man engaged 
in chopping wood and asked him to enlist, telling him 
that he would get a nice uniform, with good pay, and 
that the war would soon be over and he would have 
the glory of serving his country. He said, ''You can't 
fool me that way ; I would rather chop wood than to 
have some fellows chopping at me." But I said, ''My 
friend, you are a patriot and want to serve your 
country, don't you?" He said "The country has never 
done anything for me and I won't fight for it." I re- 
plied, "Do you want Jeff Davis to rule this country?" 
He replied, "I don't care a continental who rules this 
country ; I get the same pay and have to do the same 
work whether Jefif Davis or Abe Lincoln rules." It 
is needless to say this man did not enlist. 

I had arranged to make a war speech in a small 
Methodist church not far from Bridgeton, but when 
the time arrived for the meeting I found the church 
locked with a large company of people standing out- 
side. I took in the situation and mounted a large 
stump in order to address the people. I began by 
eulogizing General Jackson, who said the "Union 
must be preserved." It was quickly apparent that I 
had made a happy hit, for at that point an old gentle- 
man said, "There can be no objection to this man 
going into the church." We all entered the church 



3i6 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

and had a good war meeting. After the meeting I 
invited all who wanted to enlist to meet me in the 
school house adjacent. Quite a large number fol- 
lowed me to the school house and sixteen young men 
enlisted. One good old mother came to me and said, 
"I cannot be a soldier, but here is my son who wants 
to enlist ; take good care of him and bring him back 
to me again." This young man made a good soldier, 
passing through more than thirty battles and re- 
turned safely to his mother. 

* * * 

It was a noticeable fact during the later years of his 
life Dr. Graw delighted to relate personal reminis- 
cences of the Civil War. A short time previous to 
this he had delivered an address before the Camden 
Preachers' Meeting on what he saw at the battle of 
Fredericksburg. He had also lectured and written 
frequently in later life on war topics. 

The Conference of 1897 was held in Central 
Church, Trenton, beginning March 24, and was pre- 
sided over by Bishop Warren. 

The Lloyd marriage bill and the question of the 
eligibility of women to seats in the General Confer- 
ence were up for discussion at this session. The 
Conference commended the work of the Committee 
on Marriage Legislation, appointed by the Camden 
Preachers' Meeting, of which Dr. Graw was a mem- 
ber. The vote on the eligibiUty of women was as 
follows: For, 68; against, 103. During the Confer- 
ence year these brethren had passed away : Caleb K. 
Fleming, born near Bridgeport, N. J., August 30, 
1824; died August 3, 1896. James R. Mace, born in 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 317 

Canada, 1857; ^^^^ January 16, 1897. Joseph H. 
Mickle, born in Mauricetown, May 18, 1841; died 
May 3, 1896. Dr. Mace's death was especially de- 
plored on account of his youth and the promise he 
gave of reaching the front rank of pulpit orators. 

On motion of Dr. Graw the Conference unani- 
mously requested the legislature to pass Bill 162, 
which prohibited the sale of liquor within 200 feet of 
buildings occupied as a church, charitable institution 
or a public schoolhouse. In his report Presiding El- 
der Reed said: 'Tirst Church, Trenton, has paid 
$7500 on the church debt. Their total missionary 
collection is $1344." 



3i8 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

THE CONFERENCE OF 1898. 

^^^ WO pleasant years had been spent as pastor of 
\A^ First Church, Trenton, and it was Dr. Graw's 
intention to return to the charge for another 
year, when an unfair attack was made which forced 
him out of the office of pastor and again, and for the 
last time, harnessed him with the responsibilities of 
the presiding eldership. If the wishes of Dr. Graw 
and his family had been consulted, he would have 
been returned to Trenton for another year, and then 
when the Camden District opened the following 
spring, been given the privilege of serving that dis- 
trict again. But the men who sought his overthrow 
were confident they could now do openly what they 
had secretly attempted before, and with sure pros- 
pects of present success. In the fall of 1897 there 
were rumors that a ''combine" was being formed to 
crush Dr. Graw ; that they had the votes, the men and 
everything else needed to do it. Young ministers 
who had persisted in standing by the man who had 
stood by them so faithfully in the past, were urged to 
abandon their old-time friend, and not be buried 
under the avalanche that was about to sweep every- 
thing before it. 

With singular indifference for one who was usually 
so alert and discriminating. Dr. Graw failed to detect 
the ominous signs that were manifest to most of his 
friends and which caused serious misgivings to arise 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 319 

in their minds. Conference came and with it the cul- 
mination of the plans of the few who had worked so 
industriously for the overthrow of the man who had 
been a leader tried and true for thirty years. Their 
plan, in brief, was to assume that Dr. Graw was an 
aspirant for the presiding eldership of the Bridgeton 
District and then (knowing that such was not the 
case), to win a hollow victory by securing his rejec- 
tion and thus obtain a preliminary advantage that 
might be used to his undoing a year later. But Dr. 
Graw spoiled the scheme by his unaccountable inac- 
tion at the outset, which permitted his opponents to 
develop their plans, and second, by his unexpected 
and vigorous fight for a vindication that could only 
be had by giving him the very thing his opponents 
sought to keep him out of. And this is why it was 
Dr. Graw was given the Bridgeton District ; not that 
he wanted it, for he did not, but because his traducers 
could be effectually answered in no other way. 

There is nothing unusual or unfair in the ambition 
which inspired some of the men who opposed Dr. 
Graw. They thought he had been in the leadership 
long enough, and that younger men should be given 
a chance. So long as proper methods were used, no 
reasonable objection could be raised. The objection 
was against the methods employed, not the object 
sought to be attained. It certainly did look as if, in 
the natural order of events, it was time for Dr. Graw 
to retire. But if the Conference desired him to con- 
tinue in the leadership, who could deny his creden- 
tials? It is a pleasure to be able to state that a num- 



320 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ber of the men in this movement afterwards became 
warm friends of Dr. Graw. 

It was with sincere regret the family moved from 
Trenton and took up their residence in Millville. 
First Church, Trenton, has many members who seem 
to take especial pleasure in ministering- to the com- 
fort of the pastor and his family. Their friendly 
offices greatly endeared the people to the pastor and 
his family and closely cemented the ties of friendship. 

The sixty-second session of the Conference was 
held in First Church, Camden, beginning March 30, 
1898, with Bishop McCabe in the chair. J. H. Payran 
was elected secretary to succeed J. L. Roe who had 
been made presiding elder of the New Brunswick Dis- 
trict at the preceding session of the Conference. 

It was at this session of the Conference that a reso- 
lution was introduced which caused a great deal of 
interest at the time. It appears that the ances- 
tral name of Dr. Hanlon had been O'Hanlon. 
After the death of their father the children abbre- 
viated the surname by dropping the O. The doc- 
tor had applied to the legislature for permission to 
restore his name to its original form and he asked in 
a resolution signed by himself and Dr. Graw that the 
proceedings connected therewith be entered on the 
Conference minutes as a part of the record. A paper 
from the Committee on Temperance appointed by 
the General Conference was presented by Dr. Graw 
and referred to the Committee on Temperance. 

Dr. Graw had the very highest opinion of Miss 
Frances E. Willard, whose beautiful life and conse- 
crated talents were an inspiration to all temperance 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 321 

workers. The following resolution introduced by 
Dr. O'Hanlon and Dr. Graw was unanimously passed : 
"Resolved, That we, the ministers of the New Jersey 
Conference, desire to place on permanent record our 
estimate and appreciation of the late Miss Frances E. 
Willard ; that in the brilliancy of her intellect, in the 
warmth of her great heart; in the snow-white purity 
of her character, as well as in the intense devotion and 
wide beneficence of her life, she very justly stands in 
history among the most conspicuous workers and 
benefactors of her sex or race ; that we desire hereby 
to do honor to her memory and to render thanks to 
Almighty God for her beautiful and useful life." 

A resolution thanking Rev. Joseph L. Roe for the 
remarkable ability and fidelity with which he had 
filled the office of secretary of the Conference was in- 
troduced by Dr. O'Hanlon and Dr. Graw and passed 
without a dissenting voice. 

The committee on the gift of A. K. Rowan to the 
Conference made its report and recommended that 
the property be accepted. The report was adopted 
and J. B. Graw, Thomas O'Hanlon, W. W. Moffett, 
G. B. Wight, G. L. Dobbins, and J. W. Marshall were 
appointed a committee to carry out the intention of 
the donor. At this session of the Conference memoirs 
were read of the following: Dr. E. H. Stokes, born 
at Medford, N. J., October 10, 1815, died July 16, 
1897. Dr. Stokes had been a leader in New Jersey 
Methodism for many years. Previous to his connec- 
tion with Ocean Grove Camp Meeting he had served 
as presiding elder and supplied many of the largest 
churches in the Conference. He was a kindly, genial, 



322 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

devoted Christian and delighted in aiding every good 
work in all possible ways. He and Dr. Graw had 
been friends for many years, their acquaintance dat- 
ing back to the early years of Dr. Graw's ministry. 
Another prominent minister, Philip Cline, who was 
born in Philadelphia July ii, 1821, and died Febru- 
ary 10, 1898, ended his life work during this Confer- 
ence year; Robert S. Harris, born in Philadelphia in 
1 81 6, died February 10, 1898. He was the originator 
of Children's Day, and this surely is honor enough for 
any Methodist preacher. Wilmfer F. Herr and James 
Vansant also died this year, one in the prime of vig- 
orous manhood ; the other an honored veteran of over 
four score. Wm. Walton, who had served a number 
of the larger churches in the Conference and had also 
been presiding elder and who had been secretary of 
the Pitman Grove Association for many years, died 
March 31, 1897, aged 66. Mr. Walton was converted 
under the ministry of Socrates Townsend. William 
M. White died of congestion of the lungs April 31, 
1898, aged 60. Two prominent laymen also passed 
away during the year : Daniel H. Erdman, who was 
bom in Philadelphia, June 25, 1826, and was for 40 
years a member of First Church, Camden and 
for 18 years president of the board of trustees; and 
James M. Cassady, born in Philadelphia in 1821, died 
August 8, 1897. He also was a prominent member 
of old Third Street Church, Camden, and was one of 
the best known lay Methodists in the state, being 
associated with the organizers of Pitman Grove Camp 
Meeting and treasurer of the association for a long 
time. There were twelve memoirs in the Conference 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 323 

Minutes of 1898, a number which has seldom, if ever, 
been equalled. 

At the close of this session of the Conference Dr. 
Graw moved his family to Millville and assumed 
charge of the Bridgeton District, succeeding Dr. G. 
B. Wight in the office. 



324 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

SKETCHES OF CAMP MEETINGS OF WHICH DR. GRAW WAS 
PRESIDENT. 

^^^^ URING the three years Dr. Graw served the 
%T I Bridgeton District as presiding elder he 
worked with incessant energy. He had 
previously been president of the Ocean City Camp 
Meeting Association from October 4, 1887, to Octo- 
ber II, 1892. He had subsequently been elected 
president of the Malaga Camp and also of the Sea- 
ville Camp. During his life he had been president of 
four camp meeting associations, viz. : Island Heights, 
Ocean City, Malaga and Seaville. Rev. George J. 
Wentzeil has furnished sketches of the Malaga and 
Seaville camps as follows : 

MALAGA CAMP. 

The West Jersey Grove Association, better known 
as the Malaga Camp Meeting Association, was organ- 
ized in 1873. The grounds are situated on the wxst 
side of the old Malaga pike about a mile and a quar- 
ter from the little town of Malaga, and is in Cumber- 
land county. Before the organization of Malaga Camp 
Association it was known as Richman's Grove. 

In 1873 a meeting of those interested was held to 
consider the purchasing of the grove for a perma- 
nent camp meeting for Willow Grove and Gloucester 
Circuits. Rev. J. P. Connelly w^as then pastor of 
Willow Grove Circuit and Rev. John Warthman w^as 
stationed on Gloucester Circuit. Both of these min- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 325 

isters are members of New Jersey Conference, and to 
them much credit is due for the establishing of the 
camp meeting and for a great deal of its early success. 

On August 2, 1873, the association was formally 
organized with the following offtcers : President, B. F. 
Richman ; vice-president, J. S. Sanbem ; secretary, A. 
A. Smith, M.D, ; Hosea Nichols, who is the father of 
Revs. S. M. Nichols and M. H. Nichols, of the New 
Jersey Conference, was elected treasurer. Among 
the names of the first directors was that of Rev. Sam- 
uel Woolford, a local preacher who perhaps has 
preached more sermons, buried more people and mar- 
ried more couples than any other local preacher that 
ever lived in South Jersey. He has since gone to his 
reward. 

The grove, then containing twenty acres, was pur- 
chased of Joshua Richman, Sr., for $1000. The work 
of opening avenues and laying the ground out in 
square? was begun under the direction of Dr. A. A. 
Smith whose hard work is not forgotten. 

The first camp meeting was held in July, 1874. The 
time for the opening was announced and people far 
and near anxiously awaited the dawning of the day 
that should make the woods ring with the songs and 
shouts of the hundreds that would assemble them- 
selves together on the new camp meeting grounds. 

It was a day long to be remembered. Long be- 
fore the hour for service had arrived hundreds were 
present. Many preachers were there both from 
the itinerant and the local ranks. The first camp 
meeting started off very auspiciously, and a good re- 
vival followed. 



Z2(i LIFE AND TIMES OF 

This camp meeting resort has grown very rapidly. 
The people who first attended this camp and lived in 
muslin tents and market wagons during the ten days* 
meeting are now owners of very pretty and conven- 
ient cottages. The interest in this camp has never 
waned ; but on the contrary has steadily increased 
from year to year until now more than two hundred 
cottages grace this beautiful grove. 

Malaga Camp seems to be the Mecca of Metho- 
dism on Bridgeton District during the last half of the 
month of August of each year. Thousands of peo- 
ple go to this camp meeting, and, on what is known 
among the cottagers as *'Big Sunday" between 10,000 
and 15,000 people gather on Malaga camp ground. 

Malaga Camp Meeting Association always had a 
layman for president and manager until 1894, when 
Rev. C. F. Downs was elected president. After serv- 
ing in that capacity for two years he resigned and 
Rev. Dr. J. R. Thompson was chosen president and 
served two years. Rev. Eli Gifford became the next 
president. Owing to lack of sufficient time to give 
to this work he resigned after serving one year. Rev, 
J. B. Graw, D.D., after much solicitation on the part 
of the directors, consented to accept the presidency 
of the Association, which office he held two years^ 
Dr. Graw did not believe in some of the so-called up- 
to-date methods of running camp meetings. He ex- 
horted the people to steadfastly adhere to the princi- 
ples of Methodism. The last year Dr. Graw was pres- 
ident the camp meeting was marked for its deep spir- 
ituality. At the close of the camp Dr. Graw told the 
directors that he could not accept the presidency for 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 327 

another year, owing to the vast amount of work he 
had to do. This was deeply regretted by many. Rev. 
C. F. Downs, a former president, was again called to 
that office. 

Under the good management of the above named 
ministers and the hearty co-operation of the laymen 
this camp has become one of much power and influ- 
ence. It has good accommodations for the many 
visitors that throng to this popular religious resort. 
The association now owns thirty acres of fine grove 
and improvements have been made from time to 
time, until now the association has much very valua- 
ble property, and is destined to become a powerful 
factor in New Jersey Methodism. 
* * * 

SEAVILLE CAMP. 

The South Jersey Camp Association, or what is 
known as Seaville Camp Association, was organized 
in August, 1875. 

Rev. Jesse Diverty, a local preacher of more than 
ordinary ability, was one of the promoters of this 
camp, and became its first president, which office he 
held for a number of years. He was tireless in his 
endeavor to make Seaville Camp a success, and much 
of the success attained was the result of his untiring 
labors. Rev. J. T. Price, whom God had blessed to 
the salvation of many souls, became a very impor- 
tant factor in Seaville Camp and several times was 
chosen president of the Association. 

Seaville Camp is so situated as to be accessible 
from all parts of Cape May county. In former years 
great crowds of people flocked from all parts of the 

20 



328 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

county to this then popular religious resort. Much 
interest was shown in its early days, and some glori- 
ous revivals resulted from these camp meetings. 
Many well-to-do people built very fine cottages on 
Seaville Camp ground, and liberally supported it 
financially. 

Rev. H. F. Parker took a great deal of interest in 
the camp and served as secretary for twelve years and 
did much toward pushing on the chariot of Christ's 
gospel in this part of the moral vineyard. 

This camp has been very unfortunate for the last 
few years. Many of its staunch supporters have died 
and others have moved away whose places have not 
yet been filled. The developing of seashore proper- 
ty and the starting of new seashore towns with their 
numerous attractions have succeeded in getting the 
young people as well as some of the old, so the atten- 
dance for some years has been on the decrease. 

Rev. Ezra B. Lake was made president in 1900 and 
very successfully managed the affairs of the camp. 
The intense energy of Bro. Lake seemed to be just 
what was needed and the people began to look for 
brighter days. But soon after the close of the ,camp 
meeting Bro. Lake was taken seriously ill and lived 
but a few days. His death was keenly felt by his 
many friends. 

Dr. J. B. Graw, who was vice-president, and a 
general officer, was then elected president. His mas- 
terly preaching, his ever-increasing love for Metho- 
dism, and his burning zeal to save the lost, endeared 
the people to him. The many friends of Seaville 
Camp were elated over his election to the presidency 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 329 

of the Association. Little did anyone think that he 
would be called away so soon ; but before the time for 
another camp meeting had come, God called Rev. J. 
B. Graw to his eternal reward. This was another 
stunning blow to Seaville Camp; but not to Seaville 
Camp alone, but also to Methodism far and near. 

While it is true that God has raised up other men 
to carry on succesfully His work, yet everybody feels 
that a "mighty prince in Israel has fallen." All Meth- 
odist people in South Jersey who are interested in the 
onward march of Methodism are hoping that the 
former power and interest that have been characteris- 
tics of Seaville will be felt and seen again, and that 
sweeping revivals will be the order of the day. 
* * * 

OCEAN CITY. 

While Dr. Graw was not president of the Ocean 
City Association during his term as presiding elder 
of the Bridgeton District, he nevertheless was closely 
related to the men who controlled the Association 
and assisted in various ways in furthering its interests. 

Ocean City was established in the fall of 1876. A 
company composed of Rev. W. B. Wood, D.D., presi- 
dent; Rev. W. H. Burrell, vice-president; Simon 
Lake, secretary; Charles Matthews, treasurer; Rev. 
E. B. Lake, superintendent; Rev. W. E. Boyle, Rev. 
S. Wesley Lake, D.D., Charles Matthews, Jr., and 
Rev. James E. Lake, D.D., was formed, and the work 
of clearing the tract, laying out streets and otherwise 
improving the grounds was begun with vigor. A 
wharf 125 feet long by 'J2 feet wide was built out into 
the bay. This was used by the little steamer which 



330 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ran from Ocean City to Somers Point to connect 
with the West Jersey Railroad. Hotels and cottages 
were quickly built to meet the demands of summer 
residents. The city grew rapidly. 

Rev. E. B. Lake was a pioneer, far-sighted and 
courageous. He was generally ahead of the times, 
but lived long enough to see his fondest prophecies 
more than fulfilled. City water, sewers, electric lights 
and trolley roads came one after the other in quick 
succession. The other members of the Association 
caught his spirit and the march of improvements went 
steadily forward. 

Dr. Palen became treasurer in after years, and to 
his wise, careful administration a large measure of the 
success of Ocean City is due. Dr. James E. Lake's 
experience in other enterprises of this character made 
him a valued adviser. Dr. S. W. Lake also gave 
largely of his time and talents in furthering the work 
of the Association. 

Ocean City is now the seashore summer home for 
thousands of residents of Philadelphia, Camden and 
other near-by cities. It is amply supplied with hotels^ 
boarding houses and cottages. The camp meeting- 
has for a number of years past been an attractive fea- 
ture and has resulted in the conversion of many seek- 
ers and the building up of God's people in the Chris- 
tian life. Eminent ministers of national reputation 
are often heard in the auditorium. 

Two of the Lake family — the father, Simon, and 
the oldest brother, Ezra — have passed away, but oth- 
ers have taken their place in the ranks and there is no 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 331 

diminution in the energy with which the interests of 
the place are advanced and conserved. 

Dr. Graw was elected president of Ocean City 
Camp Meeting Association in the fall of 1887, and held 
the office until the fall of 1892, since which time up to 
the day of his death he had held the office of vice- 
president. He was succeeded as president by Dr. S. 
Wesley Lake, who still holds this responsible office. 



332 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF METHODISM IN MILLVILLE. 

^^^ HERE are not many large cities on the 
\A^ Bridgeton District and most of the charges 
are located in the rural districts where 
Methodism retains much of the form and sub- 
stance of bygone years. This exactly suited Dr. Graw, 
who was never so happy as when addressing a respon- 
sive and deeply interested audience such as may be 
found at many points on the District. He found there 
a great deal of the old-fashioned Methodistic fervor 
and spirituality which often manifested itself in halle- 
lujahs and songs of rejoicing. 

When the first year's labors were completed 
Dr. Graw had become so attached to the District that 
he was glad to continue in the office as presiding elder 
for another year. His brief stay in Millville was long 
enough to enable, him to fully appreciate the peo- 
ple of that truly Methodistic city. No city in New 
Jersey houses Methodists of a better type. 

Millville, like Trenton, is a city with a proud and 
ancient Methodistic Hneage. In the year 1800 New 
Jersey was one presiding elder's district of the Phila- 
delphia Conference, with all of South Jersey as Salem 
Circuit. In 1802 the Methodists of Millville attended 
class meeting at a place three miles east of the city. 
At the Conference of 1807 Salem Circuit was divided 
and the lower part became Cumberland Circuit. Two 
years after Millville had public preaching in a school 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 333 

house at the corner of Second and Sassafras streets, 
where the City Hall now stands. In the year 1825 the 
society had become strong enough to own a place of 
worship, and purchased property at the corner of 
Second and Smith streets. Trinity Church now stands 
upon this site. This first church in Millville was ded- 
icated by Charles Pitman, and is known as the "Old 
Stone Church." The Lord prospered this society 
under the faithful ministrations of the circuit riders 
and the local preachers, and in 1845 it had outgrown 
the ''Old Stone." This gave place to a larger and 
more modern building upon the same site. In 1853 
Millville became a station and Rev. J. W. McDougal 
was the first pastor. At the close of this year the 
records show 347 members and 46 probationers, with 
$450 raised for ministerial support. Two years later 
Foundry Church was organized in the northern part 
of the city. Division caused the membership to mul- 
tiply and in 1868 we find that First Church had again 
outgrown her church home and a new building was 
necessary. Accordingly, under the efiicient labors of 
Rev. A. K. Street, the building now occupied by First 
Church was erected upon a new site, corner Second 
and Pine streets. Nine years later, 1877, First 
Church swarmed again and Trinity Society went out 
from the mother church to occupy the old building 
at Second and Smith streets. Rev. J. S. Gaskill was 
the first pastor. In 188 1 First Church was renovated 
and beautified. Dr. G. B. Wight being the pastor at 
that time. In 1885 the time was ripe for a new chapel 
which was built the same year, Dr. E. Hewitt, pastor. 
During the pastorate of Rev. E. C. Hancock the 



334 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

church was agam remodeled and a new pipe organ 
put in. Methodist activities were not confined to the 
First Church. Foundry built a new church in 1856 
and henceforth became known as ''Second Church.'^ 
The Fourth Church was built in 1890 and the new 
Trinity Church in 1891. 

In 1899 the Conference departed from its usual 
custom of visiting certain of the larger inland cities 
and held its session that year at Atlantic City where 
it was given such a cordial reception that the visit will 
doubtless be repeated in the near future. For many 
years previous Conference had rotated between 
Camden, Trenton, Bridgeton, Burhngton, Millville, 
Salem and one or two other of the larger cities. The 
Atlantic City visit was therefore in the nature of an 
innovation. 

Bishop Foss presided at the session of the Confer- 
ence which began March 8, 1899. During the Con- 
ference year George C. Stanger, Abram K. 
Street and George D. Thompson had passed away. 
The memoir was also read of John J. Graw, Dr. 
Graw's only brother. Mr. Graw's death occurred 
May 15, 1898, while he was in his 77th year. He had 
been in the effective service 48 years and was a super- 
annuate when death came. He was an earnest, evan- 
gelical preacher and was especially successful in re- 
vival work. Father Street was the senior member of 
the Conference at the date of his death, August 14, 
1898. He was born May 25, 1807, and during his 
long and useful life he filled the pulpits of some of the 
most prominent churches ; he represented his Confer- 
ence in the General Conference and served in the re- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 335 

Sponsible office of presiding elder, discharging all his 
duties with fidelity and skill. 

In his report for the first year as presiding elder of 
the Bridgeton District Dr. Graw said he had been 
able to preach three times every Sabbath with but 
seven exceptions, and that "the work done on the 
District during the last year will compare favorably 
with the best years in its history." During the year 
a new church had been built at Anglesea, costing 
$2000 and most of the indebtedness had been paid. 
After making reference to church improvements and 
the payment of debts at various points he paid a tri- 
bute to work done by the Epworth League on his 
District and suggested that the working motto of the 
chapters should be ''Saved to Serve." He also urged 
renewed activity in the warfare against the liquor traf- 
fic, saying, "The church is doing too little by far in 
seeking to overthrow and crush the liquor traffic. Be- 
tween the saloon and the church there can be no 
peace. War to the knife and knife to the hilt is the 
only condition that should exist between the traffic 
in alcohoHc liquor and the church." There had been 
^36 Quarterly Conferences held on the Bridgeton 
District during the Conference year and Dr. Graw 
had attended all but twelve. 

In 1899 the work on the District was pressed 
with increased vigor. There had been only 584 pro- 
bationers reported at the previous session of the Con- 
ference. During 1899 there were 11 16 probationers 
reported on the District. The missionary collection 
for 1898 was $6916; for 1899, $7733. 

Conference in 1900 was held in First Church, 



336 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Millville, beginning March 14th, with Bishop John F. 
Hurst presiding. On motion of Dr. Graw the board 
of stewards was authorized to consider the needs of 
J. B. Turpin, who was ill in the Philadelphia Hospi- 
tal. In making his second report as presiding elder 
of Bridgeton District Dr. Graw said: "In reporting 
Bridgeton District it affords me great pleasure to 
say that the churches have enjoyed a good degree of 
prosperity in both spiritual and temporal matters. 
My health has been good. I have not failed in meet- 
ing a single official engagement. I have attended 
2^2 Quarterly Conferences, have preached more than 
200 sermons, have attended at least one love feast 
every week besides giving attention to the many de- 
tails pertaining to the office of presiding elder. The 
Quarterly Conferences have been seasons of interest 
to all concerned. As all the working power of the 
church is in the Quarterly Conference, except that of 
legislation and making appointments, it should repre- 
sent the spirituality and intelligence of the church.'* 
In closing his report he said : ''Christian harmony has 
prevailed everywhere on the District. I have re- 
ceived the kindest attention from pastors and 
churches. It has seemed a pleasure to them to con- 
vey me from place to place and to entertain me in 
their homes. Nothing of an unpleasant character has 
happened during the entire year. 

" * And if our fellowship below 
In Jesus be so sweet, 
What heights of rapture shall we know 
When round His throne we meet ? " ' 

This was Dr. Graw's last report as presiding elder. 
How appropriate that its concluding paragraph 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. ZZ7 

should attest the harmony prevailing everywhere on 
the District and end with a quotation from a lovea 
and familiar hymn. 

An effort was being made to secure the passage of 
a law that would permit the opening of a boulevard 
through Ocean Grove along the beach, which would 
rob that resort of the control of its streets on the 
Sabbath by permitting unrestricted trafific on that day. 
The Conference vigorously protested against this 
measure and appointed A. E. Ballard and Dr. Graw 
to represent it before the senate. 

The first ballot for General Conference delegates 
resulted as follows: Whole number of votes cast, i88; 
necessary to a choice, 95. J. B. Graw received 123 
and G. L. Dobbins, 105, and both were elected. J. 
W. Marshall received 100 votes on the second ballot 
and was elected. John Handley 112 on the third and 
was elected, and J. H. Payran loi votes on the fourth 
and was elected. The reserve delegates were W. P. 
C. Strickland and S. W. Lake. Memoirs were read 
of the following brethren at this session of the Confer- 
ence : T. C. Carman, Socrates Townsend, John I. Cor- 
son, John L. Souder and Gideon F. Bishop. 



338 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1900— By REV. J. W. MARSHALL, D.D.* 

^^^^ R. GRAW went to Chicago on the Pennsylva- 
2^7 nia Railroad with a company of friends, and 
was there on time for the opening of the 
Conference. He registered and stayed at the Vic- 
toria Hotel with his friend, Senator William H. Skirm. 
At this hotel were a number of the bishops and many 
prominent men ; among them Dr. Graw's friend, Bish- 
op Andrews, of New York City, and James M. Buck- 
ley, LL.D., editor of the Christian Advocate. From 
the moment Dr. Graw arrived he was a prominent 
figure in the hotel and among the delegates. It was 
evident to all who knew him that he was there to at- 
tend to the business of the church and to do it in the 
wisest and most faithful manner possible. 

♦Rev. James W. Marshall, D.D., was bom in Aberford, York- 
shire, England, November 14, 1848, and was converted at Boston 
Spa, England, in the Wesleyan Church, when nearly 14 years of 
age; was baptized in the Episcopal Church and intended for the 
rectorship in that church, with graduation at Oxford University, 
but joined the Primitive Methodists, as exhorter, then local 
preacher. Came to the United States in 1869 and united with First 
M. E. Church, Orange. Joined the Newark Conference in 1872, 
having Cranford as his first appointment. Was transferred from 
First Church, Hoboken, to Centenary, Camden, eight years ago and 
served that church three years, and is now on his fifth year at 
Broadway Church, Camden. Was a delegate to the General Con- 
ference of 1900, member of the Epworth League Board of Control 
by General Conference election; appointed by Board of Bishops 
delegate to the Third Ecumenical Conference to meet in Lfondon 
September, 1901, and is Dr. Graw's successor as member of the 
Missionary Board. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 359 

"Dr. Graw was elected to the General Conference 
of 1872 and to every General Conference since. To 
the first he was second in the delegation, to the next 
three first, to that of 1888 second, to that of 1892 
third, and to those of 1896 and 1900 he led his delega- 
tion." Dr. Graw's position in the General Conference 
of 1900 was that which is the natural sequence of al- 
most thirty years' attendance and service upon that 
body. His relation to the work of Methodism was 
that of a conservative among conservatives on some 
questions and a radical of the radicals on others. 

The New Jersey delegation was located at a con- 
venient rise on the floor of the auditorium. Dr. Graw 
was at the end seat near to the main aisle. This gave 
him excellent command of the floor, and being well- 
known to the presiding officer, and having a powerful 
voice he was readily recognized, and so amid the 
clamor of voices for recognition by the chair he was 
accorded the floor quite frequently during the session. 

STANDING UP FOR A FRIEND. 

His voice was first heard at Chicago championing 
the cause of his friend, Caleb H. Butterworth. These 
are the words he used : 

"A point of order ! My point of order is this, that 
the matter is passed on the delegate and that the 
matter to which he refers has absolutely no refer- 
ence to this General Conference at all. It is a matter 
which a pastor should determine at home and it is 
therefore out of order." 

Nevertheless the challenge was admitted and the 
case referred to a committee of fifteen. Dr. Graw 
moved the appointment of the committee and Confer- 



340 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ence accepted and acted upon the motion. The re- 
sult of the committee's action was the seating of Mr. 
Butterworth as a lay delegate. Dr. Graw's fidelity to 
his friends was one of the admirable traits of his char- 
acter. He believed and acted upon the principle that 
a friend should be true at all times. This was axioma- 
tic in his conduct, "A friend liveth at all times, and a 
brother is born for adversity." 

EQUAL LAY REPEESENTATION. 

The first great question which came up before the 
General Conference was that of Equal Lay Represen- 
tation. Dr. Graw's position on this subject was well 
known ; he was in the opposition. The following 
speech will show just exactly where he stood. The 
Conference was making up its committees and Dr. 
Graw expressed himself on the subject as follows: 

'Tt seems to me that Dr. King is altogether wrong 
in this matter. Must we wait until we put a layman 
and a minister on each committee in order to have 
equal representation? There are committees that 
concern the laymen, and in our arrangement we have 
allowed the laymen to choose such committees, and 
there are committees that concern the ministers. In 
the Annual Conference we have enlarged the com- 
mittees until every man has been placed on a com- 
mittee and it has defeated the end in view for the rea- 
son that we cannot even get a quorum to transact 
business. Every man is on a committee and he does 
not care whether he is on a committee or not. Here 
we have fourteen committees, equal to some small 
Conferences. Now you put a layman and a minister 
.on these committees, each of the fourteen, and where 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 341 

will you find the men? You won*t have enough for 
these small Conferences to have their men visit these 
committees. I think this is a very bad movement 
and I hope it will not prevail. We have done enough 
to-day, Mr. President. We have admitted laymen, 
they are now in equal numbers. Now, if you keep on 
there will be no place for a preacher to stand, not even 
in the Annual Conference. I have been willing to go 
just as far as we have gone, but I think the time has 
come to call a halt and I don't see any wisdom what- 
ever of putting a layman and a preacher on the same 
committee." 

From the above speech it will be readily perceived 
that whilst Dr. Graw was opposed to the measure 
which gave the church equal lay representation in the 
General Conference, when it became a fact he accept- 
ed it and ordered his conduct accordingly. This was 
one of the elements in his character which made him 
successful in his career. When further opposition was 
useless he accepted the new condition with good 
grace and laughed over it. 

Here we might mention that some of the most im- 
portant work of the General Conference is performed 
by the fourteen standing committees ; the discussions 
in committee are as a rule very exhaustive in charac- 
ter and the results reached indicate the wisdom of the 
best minds of the church concerning the matters in- 
volved. Dr. Graw was for years an important mem- 
ber of the Committee on Episcopacy to which he was 
again elected at this Conference. He was also with 
his friend, Ezra B. Lake, a member of the Committee 
on Temperance and Prohibition of the Liquor Traf- 
fic. In his work on these committees he was a most 



342 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

faithful attendant. With his large knowledge of the 
general needs of the church, his strong conviction of 
what was conducive to its highest interests, and his 
dominant personality, he was a very important factor 
in reaching valuable and abiding conclusions. 

THE ORGANIC LAW OF THE CHURCH. 

For a number of years there has been an effort to 
secure a written constitution for our church. A com- 
mission on this subject has been some time in exis- 
tence. That commission reported making it possible 
that laymen become members of Annual Conferen- 
ces. To this Dr. Graw was unalterably opposed from 
the inception of the movement. The following speech 
indicates his position on this subject: 

Mr. President and Brethren: — I am astonished 
that a minister should bring to the attention of this 
General Conference a motion like the one now pend- 
ing. We have admitted laymen to the General Con- 
ference in equal numbers, and I am sure that I have 
accepted and do accept this fact and I rejoice that the 
laymen are here. Now, Mr. President and brethren, 
the laymen have the Quarterly Conferences. Do not 
overlook this fact ; the laymen have the Quarterly 
Conferences. Bishop Hedding, I think it was, said : 
"All the working power of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church is in the Quarterly Conference, excepting that 
of legislating and that of making appointments." 
There is not a minister here, there is not a bishop 
here, but that began his career by the grace and pow- 
er of the Quarterly Conference which licensed him 
and recommended him to the Annual Conference. 
Now, the laymen have all the power at the other end ; 




Engraving by Gatohell & Manning, Pli 

REV. J. W. MARSHALL, D.D. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 345 

they have equal power here; there is only one spot 
that remains for the ministry, and that is in the An- 
nual Conferences. Now will any of these learned men, 
these professors, these higher and lower critics, these 
masters of church law, tell us what there is in an An- 
nual Conference that laymen can properly do? Mr. 
Chairman and brethren, it is a blessed thing to be a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. There 
is something more than that in the fact that I am a 
member of an Annual Conference. While I behave 
myself and have sufilicient physical and intellectual 
power to do my work, I am entitled under Methodis- 
tic law to an appointment. You may call it "a living," 
or whatever you may. In the Annual Conferences 
substantially what we do is to make our reports of the 
work done, and the passage of character and other 
matters that do not ofBcially concern the laymen. If 
there is anything of special interest to the laymen, the 
Conference of which I have the honor of being a 
member is always ready to throw open the doors and 
invite the layman to come in and speak. Mr. Presi- 
dent, I want to say there is not a layman from the 
New Jersey Conference here to-day but is in perfect 
harmony with the views I hold, and as I hold them 
and because I oppose the admission of laymen to the 
Annual Conferences, I stand here as the defender of 
the laymen as well as the ministry. Why? Now the 
laymen who go to the Annual Conferences, how do 
they get there? They are elected year by year ac- 
cording to your plan. Now it took some years for 
each minister here to get into an Annual Conference. 
He must go through a preparatory course, he must 
pass his examinations, his character inust be passed 

21 



346 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

from year to year, and the minister ordained of God 
to preach the gospel has to promise as a faithful son 
in the gospel to go where he is sent. When you joined 
the church, my brethren in the laity, you agreed to 
be governed by the doctrine and discipline of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Now, if the laymen 
come into the Annual Conference what will follow? 
They will go into the cabinet, and that is the end. I 
asked a distinguished layman the other day, "What 
do you expect?" "We want the appointments." 
Mr. President and brethren, the one thing that is held 
dear by every lover of Methodism, and other churches 
are beginning to recognize the wisdom of it at this 
time, i« that a third party makes the appointments, 
and that third party consists of a bishop and his advis- 
ers, and if these men are the men they ought to be, 
they will hear what the laymen have got to say and 
what the ministers have got to say and they will make 
the appointments as they should be made in justice to 
the ministers and to the churches alike. But here is 
a layman in the cabinet, from a District. For some 
time I represented a District. Here is a layman. He 
comes from one of the churches. What does that 
man know of the other churches on the District, ex- 
cept the one to which he may belong? What will that 
man do in the cabinet? At once you laymen destroy 
this great principle of Methodism that the third party 
shall make the appointments, the party that has no 
interest personally in it. What follows? The minis- 
ters will stand up and say : "You have elected your 
presiding elders, we want to elect our presiding 
elders," and then there comes the election of a pre- 
aiding elder; and God Alpiighty have mercy on th^ 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 347 

Methodist Episcopal Church when we have all these 
elections. Brethren, we haven't got grace enough to 
stand this awful strain of elections. I say to you, and 
I appeal to my own laymen, there is not a man among 
the laymen a better friend to you than this man ; but 
while I love the laymen and love the ministry I love 
the church above all : 

"For her my prayers go up, 
For her my tears shall fall," 

and prayers and tears shall ever go that Methodism 
may lead in the grand march of Christ in redeeming 
the world and in planting the Redeemer's kingdom in 
every land. 

A Delegate — Mr. President. 

The Bishop — Dr. Graw has the floor. 

J. B. Graw — I believe with St. Paul, "Every man in 
his own order." This is my time. Let me plead 
with you ; do not ask for anything more, you dear lay- 
men, don't! I believe tUbt you are true in your 
thought to Methodism. And you ministers — oh, w^ell, 
now, I don't know what I would do with you if I had 
you on my District. I would show you an example 
of fairness, justice and equality. But, brethren in the 
ministry, don't be so liberal as to give up everything. 
You will be like the old Methodist preacher who said, 
"Some people have charity enough so that they can 
go down to perdition and they would shove up the 
lower windows and shout 'Charity, charity !' " My 
charity and my love go for the church of the fathers, 
the church that I lore, the church to which I owe 
everything that I have and expect to be in this world 
through the grace of God. Brethren, let us remain 
as we are. And I would like to say, Mr, President, 



348 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

but I haven't time now, and I think I have a consti- 
tutional point — 

Delegates — Louder. 

J. B. GraAV — I have a constitutional point that I will 
raise by and by. Go slow, brethren. We do not in- 
tend that you shall get in ahead of us here. 

THE ADMISirlON OF WOMEN. 

During the discussion of this subject the question 
of the Admission of women to General Conference 
and incidentally their ordination came up for consid- 
eration. Dr. Graw's position on these very important 
and what seems to many co-ordinate matters is clearly 
set forth in the following characteristic speech. It is 
inserted here with the recognition of the chair, the in- 
terruptions, and the climax. It is a piece of realism. 
Its effect upon the Conference was marked, it being 
greatly enjoyed by all, but especially by the German 
brethren and their friends. The following is the ex- 
act record of what occurred : 

J. B. GraAv, New Jersey — Mr. President. 

The Bishop — Dr. Graw. 

F. A. Arter — I move that we suspend the rules and 
take our recess after we hear Dr. Graw's speech. 

J. B. Graw — I will be very brief. 

The Bishop — He says it Avill be a brief one. Dr. 
Graw. 

J. B. Graw — Mr. President and Brethren :— A dis- 
tinguished statesman said on one occasion, some forty 
3^ears ago, when arguing in favor of the liberation of 
the African race from slavery — he was informed by a 
Southern statesman that all the laws and powers were 
against him — "There is a higher law;" and on this 



REV. J. B. QRAW, D.D. 349 

question there is a higher law. There is no member 
of this General Conference, there is no man or woman 
anywhere, that can successfully take the position that 
God's word favors the election of women to a body 
like this, much less the licensing and ordination of 
women to the ministry. 

Mr. President, the end of this will not be reached 
until, as two distinguished gentlemen said who favor 
this amendment, "We will not stop our agitation until 
we place a woman in the Episcopal ofBce." Now, 
Mr. President, if you adopt this amendment and the 
outcome of this amendment shall be the admission of 
women to the General Conference, it means that wo- 
men shall become ordained ministers, and it will no 
longer be a question of statutory or constitutional law, 
but it will be a question of the word of God. Paul 
said : ''A deacon shall be the husband of one wife." 

A Voice — Hallelujah. 

J. B. Graw — It is not necessary for you to change 
the word of God, and as Martin Luther, a distin- 
guished gentleman of the race to which I belong, said, 
''Here I stand, God being my helper," I will stand 
with God's word, not that I love the women less, but 
that I love the church more, not that I love the con- 
stitution the less, but that I love the word of God the 
more; and if some of the distinguished gentlemen, 
and my friend Dr. Moore among them, had been liv- 
ing in the time of Abraham, when God commended 
him because he commanded his house before him, he 
would no doubt have raised the question, "What 
about Sarah, if Abraham is to be commended and his 
house?" I say to you, my brethren, there is not a scin- 
tilla of evidence anywhere to be found in the word of 



350 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

God that women are to become ministers of the gos- 
pel, regularly appointed. I want to say, if women be- 
come preachers, the order of God in nature will be 
destroyed and therefore I oppose this amendment. 
Suppose a woman becomes an ordained minister and 
is admitted to an Annual Conference, and suppose 
that young woman marries a minister, the Bishop 
must send him to one place and h»r to another. I 
don't want a Bishop in my place — 

A Delegate — I rise to a point of order. He is not 
discussing the question before the Conference. 

J. B. Graw — In my state is a river and up that river 
a certain place called "Point-No-Point." That broth- 
er's point of order is Point-No-Point. (Great laugh- 
ter !) If I am not discussing the question, very well. 
In 1876 Dr. Hughey proposed to license and ordain 
women to preach the gospel, and that was the begin- 
ning of this movement. 

D. L. Rader — We are not back to 1876. We want 
to come down to 1900. 

J. B. Graw — What ! is my time expired? 

Bishop — Yes, it has. 

The Bishop — Let me say that the time has arrived 
for the notices. 

THE TIME-LIMIT. 

Another subject of considerable moment before this 
General Conference was that of the removal of the 
'Time Limit." After the report of th'e committee had 
been ably discussed. Dr. Edward J. Grey, of the Cen- 
tral Pennsylvania Conference presented the following 
paragraph for the Discipline: 'The Bishop shall fix 
the appointments of the preachers under the follow- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D,D. 3S1 

ing provision and limitation : He shall not allow any 
preacher to remain in the same pastoral charge more 
than three consecutive years nor more than three 
years in any consecutive six. Nevertheless, if in any 
case the term of three years shall expire in the interval 
of the sessions of the Annual Conference he may con- 
tinue on until the next session, provided the time shall 
not be more than six months.'' This, it will be seen, 
was an effort to return to the three year rule, and it 
was in perfect accord with Dr. Graw's judgment and 
feeling on this very vital subject. As an old presid- 
ing elder he had had long experience of the average 
period in which a Methodist minister can do his work. 
The following speech shows clearly his state of mind 
concerning this change in our administration : 

'T am in favor of the report as amended and pre- 
sented by Dr. Monroe. It is not exactly what I want, 
but it is so nearly what I think will be for the best in- 
terests of the whole church that I favor it. I am abso- 
lutely and unalterably opposed to the majority report. 
Those who have favored the majority report have sim- 
ply given to us theories and matters of imagination. 
They have referred to great city churches that will 
perish unless these great churches can keep their pas- 
tors for more than five years. Mr. President, they^ 
have failed to present us a single case where a church 
has perished because the pastor could not remain 
more than five years. Show me a church like that, I 
will make to it a pilgrimage, I will climb to its high- 
est pinnacle, I will look down upon the sleeping dead 
and say, ''Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.'' 
Again, Mr. President, we are told that these churches 



352 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

that demand the removal of the time limit in order 
that a favorite pastor may remain for an indefinite 
period are the very churches that constantly clamor 
for transfers, new men. Now it remains for these peo- 
ple to reconcile this discordant element that they 
have brought to our attention. Again, it is said that 
the time limit must' go in order that some great 
preacher may remain in our great cities for an indefi- 
nite period of time. There was a time when the law 
did not allow a minister to remain in a city for more 
than four years. That law has been removed, and 
now it is possible for a great preacher to remain in a 
great city for an indefinite period, if he shall go from 
church to church. Now, it does seem to me that we 
have not as yet found men so great that these great 
cities need them for this long period of time. St. 
Paul went over to Corinth and preached the gospel. 
The philosophers opposed him, the Jews opposed 
him, the whole city seemed to be against him, and yet 
in a period of eighteen months this holy man of God 
stirred Corinth until all men began to feel the power 
of Jesus Christ and him crucified. Again, St. Paul 
went to Athens. The learned and silver tongued Dr. 
Kenned}^ prior to 1864, quoted the services of St. 
Paul in Ephesus and said he hoped the time would 
come when the preacher in the Methodist Church 
could remain for a period of three years; and in 1864 
the time Hmit was extended to three years. But it 
seems that many men now want to go beyond the 
period of St. Paul. Paul was in Ephesus three years, 
he stirred the city until the howling mob for a space 
of two hours yelled not knowing whereof they af- 
firmed or what the trouble was. Now% let us have 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 353 

the great preacher that will come to Chicago and stir 
it. Let us have a great preacher come to New York 
and stir it, and then we shall find some reason for tak- 
ing off the time limit. Until that time shall come my 
voice shall be in favor of this three-year time limit, 
with the privilege of extending it where the necessity 
seems to indicate such a thing. It seems to me, Mr. 
President, that this is the wisest measure that we can 
adopt to-day. Let us go on and remove from the 
Discipline the old time marks. Let us take away the 
word of the fathers, and what will remain? The great- 
ness of this church to-day has been reached through 
the two-year time limit, through the three-year time 
limit, through the five-year time limit, and there is no 
reason to suppose that we shall retreat, that we shall 
fail in our great and blessed work simply because min- 
isters cannot stay an indefinite period. A man may 
go but another will come. To my mind it is one of 
the most sublime things we can look upon, 17,000 
Methodist preachers true and loyal to God, they go, 
you may say, when the clock strikes; as does the sol- 
dier when the bugle sounds, but they go without any 
disposition to rebel against the authority, knowing 
that when one good man goes out another good man 
comes in, and, as Tennyson has said, "Men may 
come and men may go, but I go on forever." Men 
n^ay go> but the church will go on forever provided 
we preach the gospel of the Son of God. Less sur- 
plice, less ritualism, less of the things of this world, 
and more of the glory of God." 

The above speech was delivered with all the energy 
and fire of Dr. Graw when he appeared at his best. 



354 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

His commanding personal presence, strength of mind, 
great fidelity and sincere love for the church, were all 
centered in those few moments. So far as I can re- 
call it was his valedictory on the floor of the General 
Conference ; yes, I think I may say it was his last ut- 
terances to the Methodist Episcopal Church, for he 
died a little while before the Annual Conference of 
1901 ; and as such, it was in perfect harmony with his 
convictions and conduct during the whole of his re- 
markable ministry. The two closing sentences are 
worthy to be transcribed in gold. Happy will be the 
ministry and membership of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church if these sentiments are remembered and fol- 
lowed. *'Men may go but the church will go on for- 
ever, provided we preach the gospel of the Son of 
God. Less surplice, less ritualism, less of the things 
of this world, and more of the glory of God." To 
these words every sincere Methodist can add a hearty 
Amen ! 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 355 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

THE LAST YEAR OF SERVICE. 

fT is with sadness and regret that we enter on a 
brief description of the work of the last year of 
his life. It is true Dr. Graw was an old man, 
so far as years were concerned, but when his rugged 
constitution was taken into account, together with 
his habits, health and temperament, there seemed no 
reason to doubt his living to be at least eighty years 
of age. 

Seemingly he had never been in better health. 
His appetite was good, he slept well, and his capacity 
for work was apparently unimpaired. But with all 
these evidences of health there are not wanting signs 
of frequent admonitory premonitions. Did he have 
a definite foreboding of the near approach of 
death? There is no evidence of any such thing. But 
there appears to have been a half-formed thought, or 
apprehension, which caused him to do things explain- 
able only on this hypothesis. It may have been 
merely the thought that he had now nearly reached 
three-score and ten and that the summons might 
come at any time. Dr. Westwood was a robust man 
and yet he passed away quickly. In fact many of the 
more recent deaths were of those whose physique and 
constitution warranted the belief that they would be 
the last, rather than the first, to go. 

He spent the month of May at Chicago, attending 
the session of the General Conference. Never had 



356 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

he worked harder than at this, the eighth consecutive 
General Conference he had attended. He spoke 
earnestly against innovations that he feared, and he 
plead with fiery zeal for the retention of the land- 
marks that had brought Methodism her glory and 
power. In 1855, while at Chatham, serving under 
the presiding elder, he had preached a sermon on 
"Seek ye the old paths and walk therein." This was 
the burden of his plea on the floor of the General 
Conference, and had been elsewhere all through life. 
This conviction was born in his fibre and in the knowl- 
edge of the forces which control men and shape their 
eternal destinies. It was not an evidence of the con- 
servatism which comes with age, because he thought 
that way, felt that way and preached that way when 
he was only twenty-two years old, and serving his 
first appointment. 

But Dr. Graw was not a conservative on all lines of 
church work. Many of the fathers in Israel placed 
little value on education. He thought education was 
the second highest in rank in the equipment of a 
Christian minister. Some of the fathers thought the 
plainer the church, the better, but Dr. Graw thought 
nothing was too good for the service of the Master. 
Some of the fathers consorted only with the older 
men, but Dr. Graw numbered many of his staunchest 
friends among the younger element in and out of the 
Conference. 

He was a devoted admirer of many of the old 
hymns in our Methodist hymnals, but he loved the 
hymns because of their intrinsic worth rather than be- 
cause of their age. Dr. Graw could not sing at all, 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 357 

and yet he knew more hymns by heart than most 
trained vocaHsts who are supposed to be able to sing 
without the book and on a moment's notice. 

During the summer he attended the camp meet- 
ings, as usual, and preached with great acceptability. 
But there seemed to be a change in his manner. He 
was just as earnest as ever, but his zeal was tempered 
with a kindliness and gentleness that strangely 
affected many who heard him. This was noticed es- 
pecially at one of the prayer meetings he attended in 
First Church, Camden, and also at a meeting held in 
Ocean City. At the Camden meeting he talked in a 
way to lead one of his former members to remark : 
*'He spoke at this prayer service with such love and 
pathos, I feel God is preparing to take him unto Him- 
self." 

Rev. John H. Boswell was present at the Ocean 
City meeting, which was held in December, 1900, and 
which was attended by deep manifestations of interest 
on the part of the people. Dr. Graw preached for 
over an hour, the people seeming to be almost 
spell-bound. So intense was the interest there were 
few to go out when the after service was begun. 

As the doctor sat down after the sermon the pastor 
said, turning to him : "Doctor, I have heard you preach 
a good many sermons, but none like this. If you were 
not so rugged and strong, I would think the Master 
was getting ready to take you home." 

"Well," replied the doctor, 'T am not thinking of 
dying soon, but if the call comes I am ready." 

A member of the Catholic church occupied a front 
seat at this service, but his presence was unknown to 



558 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

both Dr. Graw and Pastor Boswell. During the ser- 
mon the doctor, in referring to one of Faber's grand 
old hymns ("There's a wideness in God's mercy"), 
said: "The heart of the man who wrote that hymn 
must have been right, or he could not have written so 
sweetly of God's love and grace." There was no 
bigotry in Dr. Graw's reHgious belief. A creed may 
be made lip service only, but when the heart is in it 
God's love controls all the impulses of man's being. 

Rev. J. L. Howard, now pastor of Central Church, 
Trenton, writes: "The incidental desire to relate is 
one fraught with interest revealing the intense love of 
souls which marked this 'winner of souls.' 

"On Sunday, December ii, 1900, Dr. Graw, in the 
discharge of his ofificial duties as presiding elder of the 
Bridgeton District, came to preach in the evening for 
the congregation at Cape May City, of which I was 
then pastor. He had already preached twice during 
the day, as I afterward learned, with a considerable 
degree of abandon. I judged him tired and to light- 
en his labors assumed the preliminary opening service. 
While the second hymn was being sung Dr. Graw 
turned to me and said : 'Brother Howard, how about 
an altar service?' 

"The time was already far spent, the doctor was 
tired, so I replied for his sake, 'Just as you please or 
feel led, doctor.' He turned with a sadness of pathos 
in his voice I can never forget, deeply moved: 

" 'I think we had better have an altar service ; some 
poor fellow here to-night ought to start for heaven.' 

"Of course I gladly acquiesced and warmly entered 
into the altar work but no one came forward. The 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 359 

sermon had been earnest, evangelical and intense ; the 
exhortation as of a prophet of old, as of one who 
spoke feeling eternal destiny might be affected by his 
entreaty. It was for immediate result, and never 
have I heard man plead and labor more earnestly. 
But no one came forward. The meeting closed. 

''After church, while seated in the parsonage Dr. 
Graw said he felt that some one that night in the con- 
gregation, under tremendous pressure to yield to 
God, had rejected His Spirit. 

''On the following Sunday evening in response to 
the altar call a man respected by the entire communi- 
ty, about seventy years of age, came forward and was 
blessedly saved, joining the church on probation. 

"During the course of the extra meetings which 
began with the new year and were signally owned of 
God, the sad intelligence of Dr. Graw's death came. 
The pastor read the funeral notice to the congrega- 
tion. In making the announcement I noticed that 
the newly converted brother seemed overwhelmed 
with grief at the intelligence. The service then turned 
into a memorial service. Rev. E. P. Stites, George 
Ogden, Rev. J. R. Wilson and the pastor speaking, 
and concluding with an altar service with seeking and 
finding souls. 

"At the close of the meeting, the brother so visibly 
affected by the announcement tarried and asked me 
to call at his store in the morning as he had some im- 
portant business to talk to me about. I called as re- 
quested and then learned for the first time of the part 
that Dr. Graw had played in the conviction and con- 
version of this devout soul. 



36o LIFE AND TIMES OF 

"The night Dr. Graw preached this brother was 
deeply convicted and only by the hardest fighting did 
he keep from the altar. After service, repairing to 
his home, while he thought of his rejection of the 
open altar, a voice, as audible as any he ever heard, 
said 'You will never see that man again. You should 
have gone as God called you and honored Him and 
His servant.' He humbly prayed for forgiveness and 
promised God to avail himself of the first opportun- 
ity. That opportunity, as we have already related, 
came with the next Sunday night, when he was sweet- 
ly saved. His sorrow was great in the death of Dr. 
Graw, this unexpected event robbing him of the 
great pleasure of thanking the doctor for help in the 
hands of God in his conversion, and the fulfillment of 
the strange premonition of Dr. Graw's death. 

"The brother abides in church fellowship to-day. 
Any one can learn from his own lips the facts as I 
have recited them. His name is Samuel H. Foy, Sr., 
of Decatur street. Cape May City. Thus did Dr. 
Graw 'sow by all waters.' Truly 'He withheld not 
his hand' and already the harvest is being garnered. 
It afifords me great pleasure to pay this just tribute to 
one who loved souls and strove for them.' " 

Perhaps there is no more interesting incident re- 
lated than that told by Rev. H. R. Robinson. Dr. 
Graw's memory was remarkable as regarded tempor- 
al afifairs, but it seemed almost marvelous with refer- 
ence to spiritual concerns. He could quote whole 
chapters in the Bible and hymn after hymn without 
an effort. 




WOODSTOWN M. E. CHURCH, 
(Where Dr. Graw preached his last sermon.) 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 363 

t)R. GRAW'S LAST WATCH-NIGHT SERVICE. 

Rev. H. R. Robinson furnishes this account of Dr. 
Graw's last watch night servdce, held in Central 
Church, Bndgeton, of which he was then pastor : 

"Before going into the church on New Year's Eve 
we sat in the sitting room of the parsonage. The 
ladies of the house were busy untrimming the 
Christmas tree, and the doctor and I looked on, when, 
quickly drawing from his pocket a copy of the New 
Testament, he said : 'Bro. Robinson, take this and see 
how much of it I know." 

"I took it from his hand and started him on chapter 
upon chapter and he repeated them word for word. 
I said to him, 'Doctor, this is really wonderful. I 
never heard anything Hke it.' He responded, 'From 
my youth I have stored away in my mind these verses 
and they never leave me.' 

"He then began on that ever favorite topic to him, 
the hymns of the church. These he quoted one after 
the other until I concluded that he also knew the 
hymn book by heart. As the time drew near for the 
public service in the church at 9.30 P. M., he sudden- 
ly took from his coat a package of old-fashioned 
hymns, some from the hymnal and others from mis- 
cellaneous books, and said : 

'Take one of these and sing for me. I have sent 
several copies to Bishop Mallalieu and he says they 
are just the thing. By all means get the people to 
sing them.' Among the selections were 'Young Peo- 
ple All, Attention Give,' 'My Beloved,' 'Come, Saints 
and Sinners,' 'Christ in the Garden,' ' Palms of Vic- 
tory,' 'In Evil long I took DeHght,' 'Awake my Soul,' 

22 



364 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

'Arise, my Soul, Arise,' 'The Shining Shore,' 'Safe 
within the Vail,' 'The Pilgrim's Song.' 

"That was an ever memorable service that night. 
The church was full. The doctor was at his best in 
preaching. 

*'He preached as though he ne'er should preach again 
And as a dying man to dying men. ' ' 

"Those of us who were present will not soon for- 
get his sermon on 'Going forward,' and the earnest, 
pathetic entreaties made to the people in exhortation 
and prayer, and when, at the solemn midnight vigil, 
we waited with him in sincere consecration, around 
the chancel rail and all over the audience there 
seemed to be an extraordinary manifestation of holy 
influence. On his return to the parsonage, the doctor 
said that it was one of the best watch night services 
he ever attended. It proved to be his last. For he 
has gone to the land of Eternal Sunshine ; 'there is no 
night there.' " 

With the beginning of 1901 Dr. Graw sought to 
advance the work on his District as rapidly as possi- 
ble, in order that he might have a couple of weeks' 
rest before Conference. He worked with incessant 
energy, but no harder than he had in former years. 
He never permitted the weather to interfere with fill- 
ing his engagements, and sometimes he was privi- 
leged to minister to audiences so small as to scarcely 
be entitled to the name. Yet he would always preach, 
no matter how £ew the numbers. 

His last sermon was preached in Woodstown 
Church, on Sunday evening, February 3d. At the 
close of the service, he appeared to be very tired, but 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 365 

this was not at all surprising because he had preached 
three times during the day and driven many miles to 
keep his appointments. The text was from Prov. 
11:30: *'He that winneth souls is wise." "It was," 
so writes the pastor, ''a wonderful discourse on the 
value of a human soul. He preached as I never heard 
him before, on the sorrows of those eternally lost and 
the joy of those who are saved by grace. After the 
sermon a lady came to the altar and was gloriously 
saved. He spoke three quarters of an hour with old- 
time vigor and earnestness." 

The next morning he took the train for Camden, 
intending to return to Woodstown at night, but the 
carbuncle then rapidly forming on his neck gave him 
so much pain the family would not permit him to go. 
On the 4th of February he went to bed, Uttle think- 
ing this was to be his final illness. Even up to the 
day of his death he gave no evidence of belief that his 
sickness was more than ordinarily serious. He had 
recovered five years before from an illness that was 
of a more alarming nature than this. After the sec- 
ond day he suffered comparatively little from the car- 
buncle, and that probably served to deceive him as to 
his real condition, although to the doctors this was 
the most discouraging sign, as it indicated a partial 
paralysis of the nerves. 

Dr. Geo. W. Woodward had been attending anoth- 
er patient in the family and so he was called in first ; 
then, later. Dr. M. F. Middleton was summoned. As 
the case became more complicated a specialist was 
brought for consultation, and two trained nurses were 
employed. All that loving care and the best medical 



366 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

skill could suggest was done to alleviate pain, and 
build up the system to enable it to withstand the 
ravages of disease, but the case was hopeless. His 
physicians worked with superhuman energy and skill, 
but their efforts only resulted in postponing the in- 
evitable. 

A drowsy feeling crept over him at times and it re- 
quired an effort to awaken him. This coma increased 
in duration and intensity as the disease progressed 
until towards the last it was almost impossible to 
arouse him sufficiently to take nourishment. Even 
as late as Saturday there appeared at times glimmer- 
ings of hope, but these grew fainter and fainter as the 
hours sped by on leaden wings. 

All day Sunday he lay unconscious, and remained 
so until a quarter of one, Monday morning, February 
1 8th, when death brought sweet relief from the 
pangs of disease. 

During his entire illness he kept talking constantly 
of his District work, and quoting passages from the 
Bible and verses of favorite hymns. All the while he 
fully expected to recover and be at work again by 
Conference time. 

Death came while in a coma and so he was not 
privileged to give a final message to his loved ones. 
He passed away peacefully at the noon of the night, 
to receive the reward reserved for the people of God. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 367 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

THE FUNERAL SERVICES. 

^^■^HE funeral services were held in First Church, 
^L, Camden, on Wednesday, February 20th, and 
were attended by an immense concourse of 
people. More than two hundred ministers of the 
New Jersey and neighboring Conferences were pres- 
ent. 

The service was opened by singing the familiar 
hymn, ''J^sus, lover of my soul," which was a favorite 
with Dr. Graw. Prayer was offered by Dr. A. E. 
Ballard, vice-president of the Ocean Grove Camp 
Meeting Association. The scriptures were read by 
Rev. Drs. Edmund Hewitt and John Handley, and 
^'Rock of Ages" was sung by the congregation. 

Rev. J. M. King, D.D., read a minute giving the 
action taken by the Board of Managers of the Mis- 
sionary Society, and Dr. Spencer read the resolutions 
passed by the Church Extension Board, Dr. Graw 
having been an active aiid useful member of both 
these boards for many years. The resolutions of the 
Philadelphia Pfeachers' Meeting were read by Dr. S. 
M. Vernon, and those of the Camden Preachers' 
Meeting by Rev. J. R. Thompson, D.D. Resolutions 
of regard and condolence were also read from official 
boards of the Centenary Church, Lambertville, and 
the First M. E. Church, Trenton. 

Dn Wight conducted the services and introduced 



368 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Dr. Thomas O'Hanlon, president of Pennington 
Seminary, who spoke as follows: 

Brethren and Friends: — Not since the tragic death 
of the greatly distinguished Dr. Samuel Y. Monroe 
which occurred a generation since, has there been so 
much interest in the funeral of any of our ministers in 
the annals of New Jersey Methodism, as on this great 
and sad occasion. In attestation of this fact is this 
vast concourse of people, made up of representatives 
from all parts of this state and even Seyond the state, 
including the 200 or more clergymen of the New Jer- 
sey Annual Conference of which the deceased was 
so distinguished a member. 

Dr. Jacob B. Graw was a strong man and filled a 
large place in his day and generation. In the very be- 
ginning of his ministry he showed unusual ability and 
energy ; such was his success that he was rapidly pro- 
moted in his pastorate, as is shown by the fact that 
his second appointment was at Freehold, the county 
seat of Monmouth, an important appointment tfien 
as it is now. In a few years we find him stationed at 
L'ambertvllle, buildine a church edifice which even at 
this time is a credit to Methodism in that city. From 
L^ambertville he was appointed ^ to the Centenary 
Church, Long Branch, where he was very effective in 
a very critical period of that church's history. 

In 1871 he was appointed presiding elder of the 
Burlington District, in which office on the four Dis- 
tricts of the Conference he served the cturch with un- 
usual efficiency for 20 years. In the meantime he 
was the pastor of Third Street Church, Camden, 
building the present magnificent church edifice. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 369 

known now as the First Church, Camden. He was 
stationed also at the First Church, Trenton, where he 
served with great acceptabiHty. From this church 
he received his last appointment as presiding elder 
and was put in charge of the Bridgeton District, which 
covered the balance of the territory of the New Jer- 
sey Conference in which he had not already been pre- 
siding elder, and where his labors were, if possible, 
more abundant than on his former Districts, and with- 
out doubt, it was overwork on this District that short- 
ened his career. 

As a preacher he was always interesting, first be- 
cause he was never dull ; he was blessed with a super- 
abundance of physical life ; he had a clear and warm 
religious experience, and a thorough knowledge of 
the plan of salvation. He preached plain gospel ser- 
mons, aiming chiefly and always at the salvation of 
sinners and the edification of the children of God, 
hence as a pastor, God gave him many seals to his 
ministry. There was somewhat of the spirit of revi- 
val manifested in all of his pastoral charges, and in 
some of them were remarkable revivals. 

As presiding elder. Dr. Graw excelled, and this ac- 
counts for the fact that the bishops of our church kept 
him in that responsible office for a score of years. He 
was a wise and safe counsellor both to the preachers 
and to the laymen. No emergency could arise at any 
of his appointments in his District with which he 
could not readily grapple, and in all instances readily 
adjust in conformity to justice and to the discipline of 
our church. He had with his keenness and alertness 
of intellect a very warm heart, so that he was a wise 



370 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

and warm friend both to the preachers and to the 
churches. 

I have not time to speak of the great service he 
rendered in his day and generation to the temperance 
cause, to the missionary cause and to the cause of 
Christian education. He served long and faithfully 
in the Board of Trustees of Dickinson College. He 
served on the Book Committee and Board of Mana- 
gers of the Missionary Society in the city of New 
York. He was. a trustee of Pennington Seminary for 
thirty consecutive years, having been first elected in 
1870, and he was very faithful in attending to htr 
duties as trustee all these. years. He was among the 
best friends of Pennington Seminary in its darkest 
days as well as in its days of prosperity. He was, 
with rare exceptions, present at all the meetings of 
the Board. He was placed on the Building Commit- 
tee that had charge of our recent improvements 
which have been going on for the last two years, and 
are now about completed. Dr. Graw, though wear- 
ing himself out with hard work, as we could see, on 
his District, was very attentive to his duties as a mem- 
ber of this Building Committee. 

I have already spoken of his large and kind heart. 
I shall never forget an illustration of this in what was 
probably the greatest trial of his life. It was at the 
Conference of 1898 in the city of Camden, where 
there was unexpected opposition to his appointment 
as presiding elder to his last District. In the dark- 
est hour of this trial I was walking with him late at 
night in the streets of Camden, giving him a word of 
qheer and assuring him that I believed his appoint- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 37i 

ment to be sure. At this point in the conversation 
he stopped on the street and spoke of hisdong and 
warm friendship to those who were now opposing 
him and he trembled Hke a stalwart. oak in the tem- 
pest and storm, and the tears trickled down his cheeks 
showing how keenly he felt the ordeal through which 
he was passing, and at the same time -his brotherly 
feeling towards all his brethren in the ministry. 

Farewell, dear brother, how we shall miss thee in 
the counsels and toils of our Conference, and how the 
inner circle of thy household shall miss thy genial 
smile. Thy stalwart frame lies paralyzed and cold in 
the coffin to-day, but thou dost still live in the hearts 
of thy friends and in thy gigantic toils of nearly fifty 
years. Though dead in thy. coffin, yet thy great soul 
has swept through the gates of pearl, washed in the 
blood of the Lamb. 

Thy work on earth is done, and well done, and we 
hear an impressive voice above thy coffin and thy 
shroud, from the opening heavens, '^Blessed are the 
dead who die in. the Lord, even so saith the Spirit, for 
they rest from their labors and their works do follow 
them." 

Happy soul rejoicing in. the immediate presence of 
thy Lord, we would not recall thee from thy blessed 
abode, but we hope in God's own time each to greet 
thee in that rest that remains to the people of God. 
Until then, we say again 'Tarewxll, farewell." 

Rev. Dr. W. W. Moffett, of Lambertville, gave a 
beautiful tribute to the memory of his life-long 
friend as a man whom he loved as a brother. It was 



Z72 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

difficult for the doctor to speak at times because of 
his emotions. Dr. Mofifett had tested the friendship 
and worth of his departed friend and knew him as few 
others did. He spoke from a heart overflowing with 
sorrow. i 

Dr. S. Wesley Lake was for many years intimately 
associated with Dr. Graw in church work and espe- 
cially in the Ocean City Camp Meeting Association, 
and this gave him an opportunity to become perfect- 
ly acquainted with his characteristics. In his address 
Dr. Lake spoke of a few of the leading events in Dr. 
Graw's life as he had noted them as follows : 

First, as to his loyalty to the doctrines. He was 
well informed in the history and doctrines of our 
church. He had a clear knowledge of our doctrines 
and was happy in preaching them. Perhaps there 
was no other preacher in the Conference that 
preached so many doctrinal sermons as he had, and 
yet he preached them so earnestly and plainly that the 
people were glad to hear him. He was well pre- 
pared and always ready to defend them. He was 
an admirer of the old Methodist hymns and greatly 
enjoyed the quoting of them while preaching the 
gospel. I never knew a preacher who could recite 
so many of the hymns of our hymnal from memory, 
and this fact was wonderfully helpful in making him 
such an interesting preacher. 

For many years he was the leading advocate of the 
temperance cause in the New Jersey Conference. He 
fought the liquor business with great courage and 
with much success. His earnest fight against King 
Alcohol begot him many enemies, both in the church 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 373 

and out of it. Some of his enemies were very bitter ; 
others were strong and influential. The fact that he 
left the Republican party and joined the Prohibition 
party and went throughout the state lecturing in the 
interest of the Prohibition party naturally aroused 
opposition from the leaders of the old party. No other 
cause in his life's work made him so many enemies. 
Strange to say, that while this noble fight of his made 
him so many strong and admiring friends and caused 
so many, both in the laity and ministry, to look up to 
and follow him as the great leader in the temperance 
and other reform movements, it influenced others to 
take a stand against him. Because of this fight we 
doubt not the Master will say, "Well done." 

Notwithstanding the fact that he was so courageous 
and brave in fighting all wrong doing, he was very 
kindly in his disposition toward every one. Even his 
enemies could not say that he ever used his position 
as presiding elder to wrong them, but on the other 
hand many thought he would do more for his ene- 
mies than for his friends. I think his aim was to 
show every one that he had nothing in his heart 
against any of his brethren. 

Then he was so willing to help every one needing 
help, especially the churches and the ministers. No 
one for the past 25 years has preached more dedica- 
tion sermons and attended more funeral services of 
our ministers and members of their families, than he. 
His sympathetic nature moved him to help anyone in 
sorrow. 

Dr. Graw was a pure-minded man. I never heard 
him use any language unbecoming a Christian min- 



374 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ister. It always seemed to me that his mind and heart 
were so full of interest in, and his love so great for the 
prosperity of, the cause of God, that he had no time 
nor disposition for anything else. 

He was a devout man. Within the past year or 
two he and I have had confidential talks about the 
■glorious work of the ministry and the rich reward 
hereafter. 

He loved the church, its doctrines, its ministers and 
people with an unbounded love. 

He was a faithful husband and a loving father and 
he did all he could for their religious, moral and tem- 
poral welfare. We all join with the bereaved family 
in mourning their loss, for their loss in a measure is 
our loss. We shall all greatly miss him. But our loss 
shall be his eternal gain, for Jesus said, ''Be thou 
faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of 
life." 

The closing address was made by Dr. J. W. Mar- 
shall and was as follows : 

Brethren ! The dominant personality of our Con- 
ference has suddenly passed away from our midst. 
We sit together to-day with the death angel hovering 
over us in the shadow of a great loss. Our brother v/as 
strong and clear in conviction and most zealous in la- 
bor. He was a man of steady nerve and iron will. 
For about forty-six years he has gone in and out 
among us, his overshadowing presence felt at all 
times. He was indeed a cedar in Lebanon, steady in 
growth, tough in fibre, permanent in values. No man 
among us has borne heavier burdens, done more 
work, exercised greater influence, made a deeper im- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 375 

pression. We can hardly conceive of the New Jersey 
Conference without the presence of Dr. Graw. I have 
just received a letter from Bishop Mallalieu. In it is 
this poignant sentence: ''The death of Dr. Graw is a 
great grief to me." 

Brethren! We have lost an evangelical minister. 
This man's orthodoxy was never doubted. We might 
differ with him on matters of administration and dif- 
fer we did. But we all most heartily agreed here. 
What did he beHeve? He believed the gospel with 
all his heart and soul and he believed in the man who 
believed the gospel and made it the rule of his per- 
sonal life and conduct. He believed in this Bible in 
its completeness as containing the revealed will of 
Almighty God. He believed in the eternity of Jesus 
Christ. To him the incarnation was one pier of ever- 
lasting truth, the atonement the other ; the bridge 
spanning the chasm resting safely on these two om- 
nipotent and eternal truths, makes the safe highway 
over which any man can travel from sin to God. He 
believed in the Holy Ghost, the divine illuminator of 
the whole world of man, the convincer of sin, the wit- 
nesser of adoption, the eternal testifier of the Son of 
God. He believed in the doctrine of eschatology — 
an eternal heaven for the good, an eternal hell for the 
incorrigibly wicked. These truths he preached most 
earnestly and at times with burning enthusiasm. 
When he preached, the whole man was engaged, 
body, mind and soul. The question of sparing him- 
self never entered his thought. His preaching em- 
braced clearness in conception, readiness of utter- 
ance, and at times great spiritual power. He had an 
experience of the things of God. To him the atone- 



37^ LIFE AND TIMES OF 

nient was a cause of daily joy and blessing. He was 
very fond of Toplady's immortal lyric : 

*' Could my tears forever flow ; 
C!ould my zeal no languor know ; 
These for sin could not atone, 
Thou must save, and Thou alone. ' ' 

Dr. Graw was a practical believer in substantial 
atonement. He knew that Jesus stood in his place 
bearing all the penalty of sin, and he joyfully accepted 
Him as the propitiation for his sins and for the sins of 
the whole world. Growing out of these beliefs, and 
realizing the presence of Christ with him, Dr. Graw in 
his last years became an evangelical zealot. During 
the time of his illness, while pastor of First Church, 
Camden, the last time, he had a vision of God and 
duty which greatly stirred his whole nature. He 
spoke of it at length during the funeral of Rev. Amos 
M. North. When he took the Bridgeton District he 
entered upon herculean labors. His zeal was fiery ; it 
burned and glowed until it consumed him. He 
preached everywhere; he rebuked the unconverted 
personally in season and out of season ; he exhorted 
like the fathers ; he prayed and wept and pleaded with 
men ; he did his utmost ; in fact, he finally worked him- 
self to death. 

Brethren! We have lost a very valuable type of 
conservative Methodist. Dr. Graw was a staunch 
Union man. He loved his nation and hated slavery. 
He was not wanting in the day of governmental ad- 
versity. He loved Abraham Lincoln. He was just 
as radical on the temperance cause. He did most 
cordially hate the rum traffic. All that he could do 
he did in favor of personal abstinence and legal pro- 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 377 

hibition. At the same time in church administration 
he was conservative. He believed in the government 
and methods of the fathers, and so the removal of the 
time limit, the admission of laymen in equal numbers 
into the General Conference, the possibility of women 
exercising place and influence in legislation, the 
amending of the discipHne to suit what he believed 
were degenerate times in the church, all these things 
he opposed, and the very conservatism of the man 
helped to save the church from going too far on the 
line of reform. It was a favorite remark of his to say 
that he believed in good leaders; but when you are 
moving heavy loads true shaft horses are just as nec- 
essary, and he liked a horse which could pull and then 
when going down hill could hold steady in the bridle. 
He loved the church and believed its highest good 
consisted largely in keeping close to the old land- 
marks. 

Brethren ! And now he is gone, what survives? 
What is there beyond death and this sad day? Well, 
thank God, he survives. That royal personality of 
strength and fulness, the real greatness of the man, 
is not dead. 

" They are not dead, 
"lis true many of them are gone ; 
Singly they came, singly they departed ; 
When their work was done, they laid them down to sleep; 
But never one hath died, 
Forms may change, but spirit is immortal. ' ' 

Dr. Graw was such a large and full man, so eager 
for Methodism to be at the front, that he entered into 
various enterprises for her enlargement, and so got in- 
to commercial activities. To some of us it seemed a 
mistake. Had our brother given all his powers and 



^y^ LIFE AND TIMES OF 

all his time to the gospel, to the church, to ecclesiasti- 
cism, what might he not have been? Not merely a 
local bishop as he was, but a bishop universal, a 
mighty benediction to world-wide Methodism. But 
his work is done and he is gone. We think of him 
to-day with all his imperfections removed. We think 
of him perfectly satisfied in the presence of his Re- 
deemer. What a magnificent glorified character he 
is ! He is quite at home in the society of Abraham, 
Moses, Isaiah, John, Paul, Luther, Wesley and As- 
bury. His great nature revels in the superlative glo- 
ries of the eternal life. 

Memory survives. The good we do lives on and 
gathers blessed accretions. 'The memory of the just 
is blessed." When you enter St. Paul's Cathedral, 
London, and ask who was the architect of this great 
structure and where is his monument, the answer 
is given, "If you would see his monument look around 
you." So here is this great church in which we wor- 
ship to-day. He was responsible for its erection. 
Wise leaders in Camden Methodism demurred strong- 
ly when the work began. But he persisted, bearing 
the blame, and now here is a new parish, and both 
these great churches live and prosper. Did not his 
eagle eye penetrate the future and see the greater 
Camden? 

Affection survives. Into the inner circle of this 
private home life we will not intrude. But as we stand 
together on the outer edge there comes from within 
only echoes of love. He loved his family. They 
love him. That is enough. Let God say the last 
word : "Your heart shall live forever." "Peace I leave 
with you, my peace I give unto you ; not as the world 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 379 

giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be trou- 
bled ; neither let it be afraid." 

Only a closing word about his death. I am very 
sorry I did not see him. I wanted to see him. I be- 
Heve he wanted to see me and his brethren. I wanted 
to send some messages of love by him to the heaven- 
ly world. May I enter a gentle protest to the medical 
fraternity? We can help you in the sick room as no 
other men can. Our presence brings peace, comfort 
and hope. No prudent minister ever gave a physi- 
cian's work any setback. Let us help you by prayer 
and personal comfort. But Dr. Graw's death was for 
the most part as he would have desired it. He worked 
to the last. What a Sunday's work he did before he 
gave up ! He has earned his rest and God has given 
it to him with the heavenly reward. Tennyson's im- 
mortal poem is a fitting close to this address, and a 
perfect description of the earthly ending of this great 
life: 

Crossing the Bar. 

Sunset and evening star, 

And one clear call for me ; 
And may there be no moaning of the bar, 

When I put out to sea. 

But such a tide as moving seems asleep. 

Too full for sound and foam. 
When that which drew from out the boundless deep, 

Turns again home. 

Twilight and evening bell, 

And after that the dark! 
And may there be no sadness of farewell. 

When I embark. 

For tho' from out our bourne of time and place 

The flood may bear me far, 
I hope to see my Pilot face to face 

When I have crossed the bar. 

23 



38o LIFE AND TIMES OF 

As the paper prepared by Dr. Wight was not read 
at the funeral service, but at a special service held dur- 
ing the session of Conference, it is inserted here in 
its rightful place: 

This vast concourse of people has assembled in this 
church to-day upon a sorrowful mission. Ministers 
of the New Jersey Conference, and of the Philadelphia 
and Newark Conferences, with committees from the 
Missionary Society, the Church Extension Society, 
Preachers' Meetings and churches, together with 
many honored laymen from all parts of the state, make 
up this great congregation, to look with tearful eyes 
into each other's faces for mutual condolence and 
support, while in these sad funeral services we pay 
our last loving tribute to our departed brother. Rev. 
Dr. Jacob B. Graw, before his mortal remains are for- 
ever buried out of our, sight. 

I know it is not an unusual thing for honored serv- 
ants of God to be taken from us ; brethren whose loss 
we sincerely mourn, and whose memories we tenderly 
cherish, but, brethren of the New Jersey Conference, 
in this sad dispensation of Providence our foremost 
minister has fallen. The one upon whom we have 
depended so often has gone out from us and his 
familiar form is cold and lifeless before us. The voice 
we were accustomed to hear is silent now and shall 
be forevermore. Great issues may arise in the 
church in the future as in the past, but the voice of J. 
B. Graw will not be heard concerning them. 

Brethren of adjacent Conferences and of the laity 
of the church, we have lost our leader, a gallant defen- 
der of our faith, just when we seemed to need him 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. ^i 

most. He profoundly believed in our common Meth- 
odism, and during his long ministry was unswerving- 
ly loyal to its discipline, its usages and its traditions. 
We thank you for your presence here to-day, assured 
that you feel our loss to be your loss also. May God 
have mercy upon us and pity us in our sorrow. 

But the presence of this vast audience also means 
an expression of profound sympathy for the stricken 
widow and children of our departed brother. Great 
is their loss, and deep is their grief. Let us unite in 
fervent prayer that our Divine Lord may tenderly 
console and sustain them in this dark hour. 

Several brethren, by request of the family, will 
speak to you upon this occasion, and many more 
would be gratefully heard, if time permitted, but be- 
fore their remarks it will be fitting that I should read 
this brief memoir which will recall the important 
parts of our brother's honorable and eventful ministry. 

Dr. Jacob B. Graw was born in Rahway, N. J., 
more than sixty-eight years ago. He was converted 
to God in early life, and in 1855, when a young man 
about twenty-three years of age, was admitted on trial 
to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
the New Jersey Conference, and for forty-six years 
has been a faithful preacher of the gospel, ceasing 
from his work only when he ceased to live. 

Of these forty-six years of ministry, twenty-five 
were spent in the direct pastorate, one year he was 
chaplain of the Tenth Regiment of New Jersey Vol- 
unteers, and twenty years he was presiding elder. His 
pastorate of twenty-five years included the foremost 
churches of the Conference, and was uniformly sue- 



382 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

cessful. As a preacher he attained high rank ; his ser- 
mons were clear and convincing expositions of our 
faith, well calculated to build up his devout hearers, 
and lead them to higher attainments in the Christian 
life, while at the same time they were earnest and 
faithful exhortations to the unsaved to give their 
hearts and lives to their Savior. As a result, gracious 
revivals of religion frequently blessed his ministry, in 
which many hundreds of souls were hopefully con- 
verted to God. The churches which he served still 
hold him in grateful remembrance. But his pastorate 
was attended with great material results to the 
churches. Large and beautiful buildings were built 
in Lambertville and Long Branch; and during his 
second pastorate of Third Street Church, Camden, 
he was mainly instrumental in effecting the sale of the 
church property to the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- 
pany for $65,000, and the erection at a cost of $125,- 
000 of this beautiful edifice where we have met to-day 
to do honor to his memory and to his work. 

Dr. Graw's twenty years as presiding elder gave 
him supervision, in turn, of every District in the Con- 
ference, and it is no disparagement to others to say 
that in his eldership he was pre-eminent. He pos- 
sessed executive ability of high order — he was saga- 
cious and tactful — he knew both preachers and 
churches, and this, with a kindly and genial manner, 
made him popular with both, who felt that their inter- 
ests were safe in his hands. In the Quarterly Confer- 
ences and in his oversight of the younger ministers, 
his ripe experience, his knowledge of Methodist law 
and usage, made him an efBcient presiding officer, 
and a sure and wise counsellor. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 383 

The New Jersey Conference was not slow to recog- 
nize the ability and worth of our brother, and no man 
in the history of our Conference has been more signal- 
ly honored than he. From 1872 to 1900 he was eight 
times elected delegate to the General Conference, five 
times leading the delegation. His General Confer- 
ence service made him widely known in the church, 
and commanded the respect of bishops and of leading 
ministers and laymen, as one always true to his con- 
stituency, and to the traditions and usages of Metho- 
dism. His ardent and impulsive temperament would 
seem to indicate that he was radical. And he was, 
intensely radical and uncompromising when moral 
principle was at stake, or when confronting the evils 
of the day, but in all matters of church polity he was 
conservative and cautious. Before he would favor a 
change in the Discipline he must be assured that the 
proposed change would not tend to remove or even 
to weaken any of the landmarks of his beloved Meth- 
odism, and his voice and vote in the General Confer- 
ence were against every proposition which did not 
commend itself to him as tending to strengthen the 
church and to promote its efificiency in the great 
work committed to it. He fully believed in Metho- 
dism as the nearest approach to the ideal New Testa- 
ment church, and tenaciously clung to all that be- 
longed to it, its Discipline, its hymnal and its ritual, 
as factors tried and approved, which, by the blessing 
of God, had been instrumental in bringing about the 
great successes of Methodism, and in shaping up that 
history of which he was so devoutly and so thankfully 
proud. 



384 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

But a man so versatile as was Dr. Graw, had to 
assume work beyond that of pastor and presiding 
elder. In 1873 he was elected trustee of Pennington 
Seminary, and continued in that office until his death. 
He was always a warm friend of the institution, and 
in the dark days of its history was its generous sup- 
porter and advocate. He bore an important part in 
the work which finally extricated the seminary from 
its financial embarrassments, and in leading up to its 
present prosperous condition. He was a member of 
the Building Committee charged with the erection of 
the new administration building, now approaching 
completion, rendering service of the utmost impor- 
tance. 

In 1875 he was elected a trustee of Dickinson Col- 
lege, and gave the college his careful attention. He 
was present at the recent mid-winter meeting of the 
Board in Philadelphia. In 1874 the Bishops selected 
him for the Book Committee to fill the vacancy 
caused by the death of Rev. Isaiah D. King, and at 
the ensuing General Conference in 1876 he was 
elected for the full quadrennium to that important 
office. In 1880 he was elected by the General Confer- 
ence a member of the Board of Managers of the Mis- 
sionary Society, and of the Board of Church Exten- 
sion, which offices he held at the time of his death. 
In all of these positions he discharged his duties with 
fidelity to the church, and with credit to himself and 
to his Conference. 

In his own Conference he was an active supporter 
of the several Camp Meeting Associations, giving 
time, means and effort to promote their efficiency. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 385 

His sermons at their great summer meetings were 
always appreciated by the large audiences who de- 
lighted to hear him, and who always heard him with 
profit. 

The temperance reform movement immediately en- 
listed his active co-operation, and he preached, lec- 
tured and wrote unceasingly in its advocacy. His 
work in this direction is a part of the history of the 
movement itself. To his dying hour he was the un- 
tiring and uncompromising foe of the liquor traffic 
and an unswerving advocate of total abstinence and 
legal prohibition. 

Thus was his long ministry spent in humble imita- 
tion of our blessed Lord who in the days of His flesh 
"went about doing good." 

In his personal life he was unostentatious, but de- 
vout. Those who were close to him will remember 
that amid the many cares which pressed upon him, 
he would frequently speak of the grace of God, which 
was his constant support, and upon which he con- 
tinually relied. He was a pure minded man. It has 
been my privilege to be associated with him, when, 
for weeks at a time, we were in confidential intimacy, 
and I desire to state that I never heard him utter a 
sentence which by word or suggestion was not pure 
and good, and which might not have been spoken in 
the family circle. 

A few years ago his health was seriously impaired, 
and some of us feared the worst, but he rallied, and 
during the past two years seemed to have recovered 
his former vigor. He entered upon the work of 
Bridgeton District with his old time force and fervor, 



386 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

but he worked too hard. During his fourth quarter- 
ly visitations of this year he has been preaching three 
times every Sunday, and riding many miles to reach 
his appointments, in addition to which he has 
preached in revival meetings several times each week ; 
exhausting vital forces which he needed when the 
fatal malady seized him. He returned home from 
District work Monday morning, February 4th, in- 
tending to return to Woodstown in the afternoon, but 
he was unable to do so. In a few days he was com- 
pelled to call in his physicians, and was faithfully at- 
tended by his old time friends. Dr. M. F. Middleton 
and Dr. Woodward, who did for him all that medical 
skill could do. But his end was at hand. The car- 
buncle, the primary cause of his illness, developed 
other difficulties, before which even his strong con- 
stitution was compelled to give way, and a few min- 
utes before one o'clock Monday morning, February 
1 8th, he passed on to his eternal reward. His wife, 
the comfort and help of his life, and three sons and 
three daughters survive him in deepest affliction. 
Two aged sisters, one of them the widow of the late 
Rev. Dr. Jacob Rothweiler, for many years a promi- 
nent member of the Central German Conference, still 
live, but too infirm to attend his funeral. His brother, 
the late John J. Graw, of our Conference, had pre-^ 
ceded him to the heavenly home. May the dear Lord 
comfort and support the bereaved family and friends ; 
may the Lord bless us who are members of the Con- 
ference, and lead us to newer consecration to His ser- 
vice, and to more faithful work in His vineyard. 
* * * 

At the close of the services the body was viewed 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 387 

for the last time by his colleagues in the ministry, 
and the large assemblage gathered in the 
church. The honorary pall-bearers were J. H. Bos- 
well, Milton Relyea, Edmund Hewitt, J. W. Morris, 
Levi Larew, S. S. Weatherby, W. S. Ludlow, W. A. 
Spencer, J. H. Magee and S. M. Vernon. 

A special car, tendered by the courtesy of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad, conveyed the casket and 
members of the family to Beverly, where the inter- 
ment was to be had. Dr. Wight accompanied the 
body to its last resting place and it was his mournful 
privilege, in company with Rev. J. F. Sechrist, pastor 
of Beverly church, to consign the mortal remains of 
his true and tried friend to the grave, there to await 
the resurrection of the just. 

Thus ended the career of Jacob B. Graw, on the 
earthward side. Of his newly begun '^life beyond the 
grave," we may not know until the final summons 
come to the faithful who yet remain on the shores of 
time. Fighting bravely the battles of life to the end 
this rugged warrior, a veteran in the service of God 
and His church, has entered the celestial city where 
there is no night and where long-separated kindred 
find a blissful reunion that will last through all eter- 
nity. 



APPENDIX. 



Notable Revivals. 
Unpublished Letters 
Minutes Etc. 



390 



LIFE AND TIMES OF 



Notable Revivals from J 855 to 190h 



Year Place and Pastor Probat'rs. 

1855 Haverstraw, J. B. Dobbins 150 

Keyport, J. Scarlett 122 

Toms River, D. Teed 174 

1856 Morristown, J. K. Shaw 145 

Union St., Trenton, Chas. Miller .... 110 

Lambertville, S. E. Post 135 

Bordentown, J. O. Rogers 250 

Absecon, D. Teed 122 

Barnegat, Wm. Margerum 140 

Broadway, Camden, J. H. Knowles . 112 

1857 Madison, C. S. Coit 140 

Boonton, J. FauU 130 

Farmingdale, J. F. Morell 195 

1858 Union St., Trenton, J. K. Burr 119 

New Brunswick- 
Liberty St., R. A. Chalker 175 

Pitman, E. H. Stokes 191 

Pennington, J. R. Bryan 125 

Englishtown, Wm. Franklin 109 

Squan, R. V. Lawrence 250 

Burlington, Broad St., C. E. Hill .... 177 

Bass River, W. C. Chattin 110 

Barnegat, W. C. Stockton 102 

Fifth St., Camden, J. W. Hickman .. 225 

Fayette St., Bridgeton, H. M. Brown 116 

Penns Neck, H. B. Beegle 213 

Glassboro, F. Robbins 125 

Alio ways, J. W. McDougall 152 

Cedarville, J. Hugg 130 

Cape May, J. F. Morell 255 

1859 Hightstown, H. B. Beegle 141 

Middletown, G. H. Neal 112 

Beverly, R, V. Lawrence 165 

Berlin, T. O'Hanlon 360 

Tuckerton, L. J. Rhoads 170 

1860 Jacobstown, T. S. Wilson 100 

Gloucester City, R. S. Harris 108 

Absecon, W. C. Stockton 104 



Mem. 



Mis'ns. 



157 


$75 00 


195 


87 33 


429 


29 50 


250 


286 44 


132 


25 00 


150 


7100 


250 


242 15 


316 


80 35 


141 


15 00 


92 


40 00 


116 


10125 


66 


4 75 


632 


25 13 


185 


34 00 


240 


200 00 


208 


149 00 


200 


96 00 


190 


180 00 


200 


50 00 


411 


110 00 


200 


10 00 


362 


19 21 


337 


100 00 


204 


24 50 


362 


111 33 


186 


46 24 


206 


40 65 


145 


63 00 


640 


22 83 


240 


74 82 


216 


20 60 


198 


70 00 


260 


11100 


657 


40 76 


343 


234 60 


135 


60 06 


441 


3142 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 



391 



Year Place and Pastor Probat'rs. 

1861 Greene St., Trenton, E. H. Stokes .. 152 

Pemberton, C. K. Fleming 130 

Broadway, Camden, C. W. Heisley . 103 

Barg-aintown, J. F. Morell 162 

1863 Wln&low, A. Gilmore 105 

First Ch., Millville, G. Kitchens .... 210 

1864 Lambertville, T. O'Hanlon 263 

First Ch., Long B'nch, W. Franklin 104 

Bordentown, E. H. Stokes 150 

Fislerville, S. Parker 110 

1865 Palmyra, R. S. Harris 103 

Paulsboro, T. S. Wilson 137 

Bargaintown, H. S. Norris 100 

Pennsgrove, J. F. Morell .,., 104 

Atlantic City, W. B. Osborn Ill 

1866 Greene St., Trenton, J. S. Heisler ... 125 
New Brunswick — 

Liberty St., R. V. Lawrence 131 

Red Bank, L D. King 112 

Farmingdale, W. E. Boyle 148 

New Egypt, J. H. Payran 130 

Tuckerton, C. C. Eastlack 160 

Pleasant Mills, Peter Burd 198 

Gloucester City, M. Relyea 100 

Bargaintown, H. S. Norris 152 

Cape May, S. Townsend 110 

1867 Pleasant Mills, Peter Burd 100 

Lambertville, J. B. Graw 106 

Pennsville, W. E. Boyle 125 

Millville— 

Foundry, J. T. Tucker 160 

Second St. Church, A. K. Street . 225 

1868 New Brunswick, Pitman, R. Thorn . 116 

Jacksonville, J. T. Price 81 

Farmingdale, J. F. Morell 150 

Freehold, W. W. MofEett 100 

Jacobstown, J. J. Graw 120 

Tuckerton, A. M. North 134 

Com'erce St. Bridgeton, F. A. Morell 136 

Port Norris, C. F. Garrison 129 

1869 Long Branch, J. B. Graw 290 

Groveville, W. F. Silvers 110 

Hedding, J. Warthman 104 

Mantua, J. T. Tucker 120 

Clayton, G. Kitchens 120 

Alio ways, W. Reeves 169 

Vineland, Geo. H. Neal 100 



[em. 


Mis'ns. 


432 


337 70 


200 


73 25 


182 




482 


75 00 


140 


36 00 


353 


122 00 


181 


218 12 


163 


200 25 


327 


655 20 


141 


106 00 


100 


438 40 


152 


91 37 


425 


178 00 


195 


160 80 


397 


153 16 


470 


900 00 


255 


316 70 


282 


273 23 


247 


100 00 


120 


177 00 


267 


187 18 


70 


91 00 


135 


106 70 


435 


154 74 


348 


210 00 


170 


87 95 


380 


244 49 


134 


108 00 


210 


67 45 


472 


415 75 


200 


245 00 


28 


52 25 


225 


48 71 


165 


100 00 


271 


205 65 


225 


60 00 


445 


356 05 


96 


41 40 


320 


300 00 


135 


lOO 00 


194 


116 63 


190 


60 13 


260 


287 90 


230 


80 00 


200 


213 10 



392 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Year Place and Pastor Probat'rs. 

1870 Matawan, M. Kelyea 110 

Trinity, Trenton, R. V. Lawrence ... 175 

Central, Trenton, R. Thorn 160 

Hightstown, Geo. Hughes 145 

Bethesda, G. W. Dobbins and 

J. H. Boswell 304 

Jacobstown, J. Vansant 125 

Pemberton, W. W. Christine 151 

Atlantic City, J. F. Heilenman 110 

Broadway, Camden, R. A. Chalker . 100 

Gloucester, J. L. Souder 115 

Willow Grove, E. B. Lake 226 

First Ch., Millville, G. K. Morris .... 140 

1871 Squan, J. T. Price 109 

Princeton, A. Lawrence 100 

Vincentown, S. W. Lake 143 

Port Republic, W. F. Randolph 137 

Absecon, S. F. Wheeler 105 

Willow Grove, E. B. Lake 106 

First Ch., Millville, H. M. Brown ... 150 

1872 Good Luck, E. J. Lippincott 100 

Bass River, J. Pratt 167 

Mays Landing, C. E. P. Mayhew .... 126 

Bethesda, A. J. Gregory 109 

City Mission, Camden, J. T. Price ... 143 

Gloucester City, A. K. Street 186 

Paulsboro, R. S. Harris .* 119 

1873 Keyport, R. J. Andrews 300 

Trenton Circuit, J. R. Westwood ... 114 

1874 Keyport, R. J. Andrews 100 

Silverton, E. B. Lake 153 

Trenton Circuit, J. R. Westwood .... 109 

Groveville, G. D. Collins 130 

Glassboro, J. B. Turpin 114 

Clayton, G. L. Dobbins 126 

Com'erce St. B'dgeton, C.S. Vancleve 151 

First Ch., Millville, R. Thorn 175 

Foundry, Millville, S. F. Wheeler ... 151 

Elmer, M. C. Stokes 142 

Tuckahoe, W. Margerum 100 

1875 Centenary, Long B'rch, H. M. Brown 175 

Columbus, S. M. Hudson 100 

Sharptown, Socrates Townsend 105 

1876 Matawan, W. W. Moffett 114 

Bricksburg, E. B. Lake 118 

Cassville, John Wagg 180 

Good Luck, W. N. Ogborn 102 



Mem. 


Mls'ns. 


212 


160 00 


274 


101 62 


230 


130 00 


185 


122 39 


280 


86 00 


260 


187 15 


184 


13133 


109 


105 70 


330 


102 64 


240 


100 00 


256 


111 85 


586 


350 00 


161 


62 50 


125 


75 00 


109 


30 00 


213 


110 13 


156 


182 82 


376 


100 00 


670 


345 42 


133 


42 00 


160 


76 88 


191 


108 50 


425 


9100 


156 


43 24 


228 


305 50 


250 


135 75 


350 


175 00 


96 


7 25 


450 


163 87 


135 


70 25 


174 


10 00 


95 


76 00 


242 


228 90 


307 


309 05 


515 


373 40 


600 


30100 


365 


287 60 


294 


328 75 


245 


72 00 


328 


121 25 


200 


103 56 


152 


120 00 


235 


124 30 


95 


51 00 


200 


77 65 


145 


20 00 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 393 

Year Place and Pastor Probat'rs. Mem. Mis'ns. 

1876 Freehold, A. Lawrence 175 

Barnegat, J. L. Souder 112 

Tuckerton, J. J. Graw 132 

Union St., Trenton, G. D. Collins ... 115 

Central, Trenton, W. Walton 250 

Hightstown, J. Lewis 102 

Bethesda, T. D. Sleeper 270 

New Egypt, W. Pittenger 131 

Florence, James Rogers 100 

Berlin, W. Margerum 150 

Atlantic City, W. S. Zane 183 

Third St., Camden, C. R. Hartranft . 103 

Tabernacle, Camden, G. K. Morris .. 134 

Williamstown, R. S. Harris 100 

Commerce St., Bridgeton, C. E. Hill . 120 

First Ch., Millville, B. S. Sharp .... 413 

Foundry, Millville, J. H. Hutchinson 170 

Dennisville, C. D. Mead 174 

Newport, J. P. Connelly 104 

1877 Pennington, B. C. Lippincott 118 

Central, Trenton, W. Walton 130 

Broad St., Burlington, M. Relyea ... 148 

Mt. Holly, E. Hewitt 150 

Vincentown, C. C. Eastlack 100 

Eighth St., Camden, J. R. Westwood 201 

Clayton, H. M. Brown 100 

Pennsgrove, L. O. Manchester 138 

Unionville, T. S. Wilson 119 

1878 Bethesda, A. M. Lake 108 

New Lisbon, J. Handley 125 

Point Pleasant, E. W. Woodward .. 120 

Trinity, Bordentown, J, Wilson 112 

Central, Trenton, W. Walton 130 

Vincentown, C. C. Eastlack 107 

Elmer, J. B. Turpin 105 

Gloucester Circ't, C. A. Malmsbury 110 

Trinity, Millville, J, S. Gaskill 164 

Pennsville, J. S. Price 135 

1879 Atlanticville, E. C. Hancock 105 

Keyport, S. F. Wheeler 100 

Lower Bank Circuit, H. Magee 119 

Camden— 

Third Street, J. B. Graw 127 

Union Church, James Moore 115 

Tabernacle, E. Hewitt 138 

Pennsgrove, J. H. Payran 120 

Clayton, H. M. Brown 100 

Trinity, Millville, J. S. Gaskill 116 



220 


130 00 


127 


26 00 


190 


60 00 


115 


35 00 


246 


52 32 


138 


82 75 


300 


46 00 


162 


101 40 


88 


34 76 


200 


26 00 


155 


177 45 


500 


800 00 


345 


329 30 


233 


315 34 


582 


271 23 


700 


270 00 


325 


243 24 


182 


30 00 


144 


38 00 


201 


200 00 


450 


58 60 


400 


319 90 


350 


620 67 


150 


30 00 


166 


40 00 


310 


191 18 


255 


132 43 


260 


70 50 


251 


59 40 


100 


1150 


174 


16 50 


185 


70 00 


470 


120 00 


196 


32 00 


400 


225 00 


170 


12 00 


231 


64 00 


139 


58 00 


214 


206 68 


316 


182 06 


80 


15 00 


555 


653 00 


422 


266 32 


360 


316 14 


377 


146 20 


360 


309 50 


368 


100 00 



394 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Year Place and Pastor Probat'rs. Mem. Mis'ns, 

1880 Cassville, Eli GifCord 106 340 45 00 

Sllverton, A. H. Eberhardt 105 137 22 00 

Toms River, G. C. Stang-er 176 146 33 35 

Tuckerton, S. S. Weatherby 100 250 161 00 

Eighth St., Camden, W. Reeves 102 374 50 00 

Cape May, A. M. North 135 192 100 00 

Walnut St., Salem, B. C. Lippincott 106 443 140 60 

1881 Third St., Camden, J. B. Graw ... 130 673 1031 39 

Grace, Camden, J. H. Boswell 130 146 50 00 

Trinity. Millville, J. H. Payran 177 401 14159 

1882 Farmingdale, Eli Gifford 105 150 60 00 

Central, Trenton, J. R. Westwood. 126 534 266 00 

Broadway, Camden, M. Relyea 150 580 535 00 

Swedesboro, C. F. Downs 156 214 177 42 

1883 Lumberton & Smithville, G. Reeves 130 98 34 62 
St. Paul, Atlantic City, Z. T. Dugan 151 87 40 00 
Third St., Camden, W. W. Moffett 140 824 1395 87 
Com'rce St., Bridgeton, Jesse Stiles 138 529 345 51 
Trinity, Bridgeton, W. S. Zane 117 362 197 76 

1884 Greenville Circuit, J. Morgan Read. 118 187 26 00 

Port Monmouth, J. F. Sechrist 89 80 42 09 

Broadway, Camden, M. Relyea 104 696 902 42 

Foundry, Millville, S. W. Lake 103 276 236 64 

Trinity, Millville, J. L. Roe 105 477 225 00 

Vineland, Philip Cline 140 411 186 57 

1885 Cassville, J. Morgan Read 136 441 82 00 

Greenville Circuit, S. M. Hilliard . . 101 228 15 00 
Long Branch- 
First Church, B. C. Lippincott. 110 300 230 OO 

Mount Holly, A. Lawrence 151 375 313 00 

Atlantic City- 
First Church, J. H. Boswell 200 210 170 00 

St. Paul, G. S. Meseroll 150 192 102 00 

Millville 

First Church, J. R. Westwood . . 186 600 605 00 

Trinity, J. L. Roe 129 502 200 00 

1886 Cassville, J. Morgan Read 165 511 125 00 

Ocean Grove Mission, E. H. Stokes 145 45 67 00 

Princeton, C. H. McAnney 118 122 78 00 

Broadway, Camden, W. P. Davis ... 209 777 1366 00 

St. Paul, Pennsgrove, Gildon Elvin 100 160 100 00 

Williamstown, J. F. Heilenman .... 112 271 266 00 

Clayton, R. Thorn 130 450 342 00 

Millville— 

Foundry, G. H. Neal 166 370 297 OO 

Trinity, A. M. North 160 550 284 00 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 395 

Year Place and Pastor Probat'rs. Mem. Mis'ns. 

1887 Good Luck, W. P. Tomlin 100 107 

Lambertville, J. H. Boswell 140 360 

Camden— 

Broadway, W. P. Davis 126 818 

Fillmore St., J. E. Diverty 130 207 

1888 Bethesda, L. M. Atkinson 133 383 

Lambertville, J, H. Boswell 110 464 

Camden — 

Broadway, W. P. C. Strickland . 109 875 

Wiley, H. N. Cheesman 107 145 

First Ch., Salem, C. F. Downs 145 380 

1889 Bethesda, S. C. Chattin 120 359 

N. Long Branch, C. H. McAnney ... 168 162 

Indian Mills, F. A. Howell 110 82 

Tabernacle, Camden, J. L. Sooy ... 139 630 

Williamstown, H. M. Brown 185 300 

Clayton, J. S. Heisler 120 400 

Glassboro, W. S. Zane 160 268 

First Church, Salem, C. F. Downs . 135 425 

1890 Freehold, D. B. Harris 100 300 

New Brunswick- 
First Church, W. M. White 117 535 

Trinity, Millville, J. H. Mickle 122 480 

1891 St. Luke's, Long Branch, Geo. Reed 131 361 

Silverton, D. C. Cobb 141 239 

Toms River, R. B. Stephenson 115 157 

Manahawkin, C. R. Smith 140 260 

Tuckerton, J. F. Sechrist 92 287 

First Ch., Atl'c Cty., J. H. Payran 184 260 

Broadway, Camden, E. Hewitt 117 918 

Gloucester City, J. B. Turpin 100 275 

Central, Bridgeton, John Handley .. 325 482 

Trinity, Millville, J. H. Mickle 130 512 

Vineland, W. A. Allen 118 531 

1892 Pointville, W. R. V/edderspoon 104 93 

Burlington, S. W. Lake 137 482 

Broadway, Camden, E. Hewitt 271 930 

Tabernacle, Camden, J. L. Sooy .... 103 726 

Trinity, Millville, C. F. Downs 160 600 

First Ch., Salem, James Rogers 100 400 

Vineland, W. A. Allen Ill 600 

1893 Trinity, Millville, C. F. Downs 125 700 

Broadway, Camden, E. Hewitt 157 1034 

Mays Landing, John Wagg 140 163 

1894 Bridgeton— 

Wesley Memorial, B. C. Sunfleld 118 171 

Clayton, J. L. Roe 155 356 

24 



22 00 


145 00 


145100 


50 00 


145 00 


175 00 


1530 00 


13100 


131 00 


158 00 


326 00 


22 00 


668 00 


375 00 


345 00 


268 00 


125 00 


226 00 


382 00 


324 00 


200 00 


23 00 


135 00 


50 00 


222 00 


245 00 


2450 00 


210 00 


425 00 


325 00 


487 00 


72 00 


450 00 


2340 00 


699 00 


325 00 


141 00 


506 00 


307 00 


2000 00 


30 00 


25 00 


375 00 



396 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Tear Place and Pastor Probat'rs. Mem. Mis'ns. 

1894 Belford, B. C. Lippincott, Jr U2 174 46 00 

Elmer, H. M. Brown 103 325 228 00 

Fairton, D, Johnson 105 155 42 00 

Trinity, Millville, C. F. Downs 130 700 300 00 

Port Norris, W. G. Moyer 161 284 103 00 

Atlantic City— 

St. Paul, J. W. Gamble 157 302 225 00 

Camden— 

Broadway, E. Hewitt 178 1041 1670 00 

First Church, J. B. Graw 115 785 733 00 

Union, Camden, G. C. Stanger . . 180 703 510 00 

Cassville, A. L. Iszard 106 415 81 00 

North LfOng Branch, G. S. Meseroll. 103 210 231 00 

Manahawkin, E. Mount 88 280 53 00 

Central, Trenton, James Moore 200 572 925 00 

Greene St., Trenton, John Handley 225 590 1549 00 

1895 Com'erce St., Bridgeton, S. W. Lake 156 529 285 00 

Trinity, Millville, C. F. Downs 100 700 286 00 

Kaighn Ave., Camd'n, J. L. Surtees 104 76 

Paulsboro, J. E. Lake 135 260 180 00 

Farmingdale, W. R. Wedderspoon . 140 170 75 00 

Medford, D. C. Cobb 163 167 218 00 

1896 Elmer, H. M. Brown 120 350 186 00 

Vineland, B. C. Lippincott 138 589 502 00 

Camden— 

Bethany, S. M. Nichols 101 230 60 00 

Broadway, E. C. Hancock 141 1022 1300 00 

First Church, J. B. Graw 150 890 763 00 

Tabernacle, E. Hewitt 170 715 760 00 

Farmingdale, W. R. Wedderspoon . . 100 276 107 00 

Hamilton and Wall, J. D. Bills .... 126 153 8100 

Hightstown, J. L. Howard 148 269 200 00 

Calvary, Keyport, G. H. Neal, Jr. .. 105 300 203 00 

Palmyra, Marshall Owens 117 303 182 00 

Trinity, Trenton, J. H. Boswell .... 170 429 100 00 

1897 Dennisville, Wm. Disbrow 100 274 80 00 

Pennsville, J. H. Hutchinson 129 164 63 00 

First Ch., Salem, J. R. Thompson . . 153 374 188 00 

Woodstown, G. G. Senser 120 270 143 00 

Union, Camden, J. S. Heisler 130 640 480 00 

Cassville, D. Johnson 131 319 56 00 

Seaside, J. R. Van Natta 117 55 33 00 

Trenton- 
Broad Street, J. F. Shaw 121 479 100 00 

Trinity, J. H. Boswell 112 572 100 00 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 397 

Year Place and Pastor Probat'rs. Mem. Mis'ns. 

1898 Com'erce St., Bridgeton, C. H. Elder 172 598 335 00 

Cape May City, J. H. Payran 120 412 300 00 

Eldora Circuit, J. R. Greer 100 279 109 00 

Camden— 

Broadway, J. W. Marshall 144 1042 1376 00 

Eighth Street, W. S. Mitchell ... 115 208 70 00 

First Church, John Handley .... 125 825 920 00 

Barnegat, C. B. Ogden 137 240 90 00 

Trinity, Trenton, J. H. Boswell 122 658 100 00 

1899 West Grove. W. G. Moyer 116 240 76 00 

Whitesville, Wm. Disbrow 105 445 90 00 

Trinity, Trenton, J. H. Boswell .... 110 698 lOO 00 

1900 Camden— 

Broadway, J. W. Marshall 177 1190 1594 00 

First Church, John Handley ... 150 900 800 00 

1901 Trinity, Camden, G. T. Harris 108 163 46 00 

Trinity, Trenton, C. H. Elder 143 550 112 00 



Probationers, Preachers, Members and Mission- 
ary Collection by Years* 

Years Probationers Preachers Mem. Missions 

1855 5947 227 32532 $12123 

1856 5957 222 33632 9650 

1857 6312 232 36697 10591 

1858 *6254 119 20457 5311 

1859 4287 126 22370 6114 

1860 3438 125 22950 6713 

1861 4188 132 22559 5518 

1862 2293 130 22974 6485 

1863 2998 138 22410 9254 

1864 3683 148- 22527 12984 

1865 3652 146 22703 17274 

1866 5122 149 22648 18402 

1867 4133 150 24117 16581 

1868 5101 162 25171 15832 

1869 5053 161 26217 17159 

1870 5429 164 27717 17675 

1871 3812 166 27577 17097 

1872 4083 170 28055 18104 

1873 3556 176 27592 18894 

1874 5823 176 28251 10372 

1875 4095 171 28863 16781 

*Newark Conference set off this year. 



398 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Years Probationers Preachers Mem. Missions 

1876 8860 179 29585 16133 

1877 4993 180 31835 15705 

1878 4829 175 32554 16168 

1879 4535 179 33714 14509 

1880 5393 183 34290 15875 

1S81 3312 183 34918 16565 

1882 3867 187 34S51 18813 

1883 4763 189 



1884 4406 199 35346 21643 

1885 5436 202 35943 23074 

1886 5887 212 37432 26881 

1887 4984 215 38682 27331 

1888 4540 216 40209 29263 

1889 5626 216 40798 29417 

1890 4941 225 41875 30076 

1891 6504 226 41912 31423 

1892 5036 219 43442 31603 

1893 4716 224 43619 31684 

1894 73ei 221 44557 

1895 6392 223 47056 

1896 6465 221 48228 29445 

1897 6573 226 48708 29484 

1898 5953 223 51307 29356 

1899 3486 221 51420 27469 

1900 4874 220 50470 29425 

lOOi 4309 224 51886 28850 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 399 



Minutes Adopted by Societies and Churches* 



MISSIONARY SOCIETY 
of the 
METHODIST EPISCOPAL. CHURCH. 

150 Fifth Avenue, New York, March 21, 1901. 
Mrs. Jacob B. Graw, Camden, N. J. 

Dear Mrs. Graw— The Board of Managers of the Missionary 
Society, at its meeting on Tuesday last, adopted the inclosed 
Memorial Minute concerning their beloved co-laborer, your hon- 
ored husband, and I am directed to send you this copy. Hoping 
that you will be graciously sustained in the great affliction that 
has come upon you, Sincerely yours, 

S. L.. BALDWIN. 



MEMORIAL, MINUTE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF MANA- 
GERS, MARCH 19, 1901. 

Jacob B. Graw was born in Rah way, N. J., in 1832. He was 
converted in early life, and in 1855, at the age of twenty-three, was 
admitted on trial in the New Jersey Conference. Of the forty-six 
years of his ministry, twenty-five were spent in the pastorate, one 
year as Chaplain of the Tenth Regiment of the New Jersey Volun- 
teers, and twenty years in the presiding eldership. He had excel- 
lent rank as a preacher of the Gospel, of an earnest and evangelis- 
tic type. Gracious revivals of religion were frequent in his min- 
istry, under which hundreds of souls were converted. His great 
ability in the presiding eldership was everywhere recognized. 
Tactful in dealing with both preachers and churches, of very gen- 
ial disposition, he succeeded in securing the confidence of those 
with whom he had relation. He was well known as an efficient 
presiding officer, and a wise counsellor. He was eight times elected 
delegate to the General Conference, and while his ardent and im- 
pulsive temperament and radical views brought him in collision 
with others, yet in matters of church polity he was conservative 
and cautious, and always kept in good fellowship with those who, 
with him, were endeavoring to serve the Master, however much he 
might differ with them in regard to the measures to be adopted. 



400 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

He was an ardent supporter of the Temperance Reform, preach- 
ing, lecturing, and writing unceasingly in its favor. No one ever 
doubted his position as an uncompromising advocate of total absti- 
nence and legal Prohibition. 

In his personal life he was a devout and pure-minded man, and 
one whose influence in all family circles was ever good. 

He returned home from his District work Monday morning, 
February 4th, expecting to resume his duties that day, but was 
unable to do so. His strong constitution succumbed to severe dis- 
ease, and he passed to his eternal reward early on Monday morn- 
ing, February 18, 1901. 

He was elected a member of the Board of Managers by the 
General Conference of 1880, and has rendered faithful service during 
the twenty years following. We miss the presence of the genial 
and beloved brother and faithful friend, and ardent and Christian 
minister. "We sorrow with his family in the bereavement that has 
come upon them, and direct that a copy of this memorial minute 
be forwarded to them. 



THE BOARD OF CHURCH EXTENSION 

of the 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Philadelphia, Pa., March 14, 1901. 
Mrs. J. B. Graw, Camden, N. J. 

My Dear Mrs. Graw:— I send you a copy of the minute that 
was adopted by our Board on the death of your husband, and 
which was read at the funeral services, and is now sent to you 
with the signature of the secretary. 

Praying God's blessing upon you, in your bereavement, I am. 

Yours faithfully, 

W. A. SPENCER. 



JACOB B. GRAW, D.D. • 

At a regular meeting of the Board, February 20th, the follow- 
ing minute was adopted: 

This eminently useful minister of our Lord Jesus Christ passed 
from the earthly to the heavenly life on February 18, 1901. 

Dr. Graw was elected a member of the Board of Church Exten- 
sion by the General Conference of 18S0, and has given twenty years 
of faithful service to our cause, serving on three important com- 
mittees. 

The Board of Church Extension desire to express their appre- 
ciation of his sterling qualities of mind and heart, and his sturdy, 
unflagging devotion to Methodism, his loyal and loving adherence 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 401 

to its spiritual life and mission, his constant and consuming zeal 
for the salvation of the souls of his fellowmen, his Christlike con- 
descension to the lowliest and least of the poor around about him. 
As a pastor, an editor, a presiding elder, in every relation of 
church life, he was conspicuously conscientious and faithful. Amid 
all the multiplied emergencies of his varied duties, he gave to our 
work also loyal service and sympathy. 

We cannot adequately express our deep sympathy with the be- 
reaved family of our brother, but we feel ourselves to be, in a 
large sense and in a large measure, losers by the closing of his 
earthly career, and the severing of our mutual fellowship and 
companionship. But we are confidant in the hope of the renewal 
of our companionship and the perpetuity of our fellowship in the 
world to come. 

Invoking God's blessing upon his sorrowing loved ones, we 
pray that the spirit of all consolation may comfort them. 

J. S. J. McCONNELL, 
Secretary. 



NEW JERSEY PUBLISHING COMPANY. 

Camden, N. J., Feb. 25, 1901. 

At a special meeting of the Directors of the New Jersey Pub- 
lishing Company, unanimous action was taken upon the death of 
the president and founder of said company. Rev. J. B. Graw, D.D„ 
and Rev. Marshall Owens and Rev. Edward Mount were appointed 
to draft suitable resolutions. The following were adopted: 

It is with profound sorrow we learn of the death of our hon- 
ored brother and co-laborer in the ministry and in the work of the 
New Jersej'- Publishing Company, the Rev. J. B. Graw, D.D., one 
of the presiding elders of our Conference, and we desire to put on 
record an expression of our high appreciation of the great services 
rendered by our deceased brother to the said company, the success 
of which he always desired and for which he labored, having in 
mind the benefit to the New Jersey Conference and the church at 
large. 

With the whole Conference we mourn his loss to us and yet 
rejoice in the fact that he has lived long and wrought a good work 
and has passed triumphantly to his reward. 

We hereby tender our sincere condolence to the bereaved wife, 
daughters and sons, praying that God's grace may be abundantly 
administered to them in this their time of severe afflictions. 

We order this tribute to his memory to be entered upon our 
records and published in The New Jersey Methodist and a copy 
sent to his family. MARSHALL OWENS, 

EDWARD MOUNT, 



402 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

BROADWAY CHURCH, SALEM. 

The following resolutions were unanimously adopted by the 
Official Board of Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church, Salem, 
New Jersey: 

Whereas, The all-wise and eternal Father has seen fit in His 
far-reaching and inscrutible providence to remove from his earthly 
labors our highly esteemed and beloved presiding elder. Rev. J. 
B. Graw, D.D., and. 

Whereas, It is in full accord with the sentiment and desire of 
this Official Board to place on record our appreciation of his life 
and services, it is hereby 

Resolved, That while we bow in humble submission and 
acknowledge the wisdom that finds it necessary to affiict, we re- 
member our deceased brother as one whose life was devoted to 
the upbuilding and establishment of Christ's kingdom in the world, 
who sought in the highways and byways for those who needed aid 
and sympathy, and whose time and abilities were devoted to all 
who required the counsel of a wise and sagacious leader. 

Resolved, That we recall with gratification the success of Dr, 
Graw as an able and fearless preacher of the Gospel whose zeal 
and logic were irresistible, and as one whose burning words for 
the right will pass down to posterity. 

Resolved, That in his death the church in general sustains a loss 
not easily estimated, and that we, as an Official Board, and also in 
our individual capacity grieve that our brother will meet with us 
no more; that we shall no more receive that genial and cordial 
greeting which he was so accustomed to give his associates. 

Resolved, That in life Dr. Graw was the champion of whatever 
was of good report, and a foeman who dealt sturdy blows to what- 
ever was evil. 

Resolved, That the Official Board sympathize most deeply 
with the bereaved family, and tender them their most kindly 
wishes that their sorrow may be assuaged by the consolations of 
Him whose promises are ever sure. 

Resolved, That the above resolutions be placed in the records 
of the church, and a copy be sent to Mrs. Graw and family, and 
also that they be published in the New Jersey Gazette and Epworth 
Herald. MAURICE B. AYARS, 

T. G. DUNN, 
C. L. DUFFELL, 

Committee. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 403 



Unpublished Letters, 



WILLARD F. MALLALIEU, 

BISHOP OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 

AUBURNDALE, MASS. 

May 31. 1899. 
Rev. J. B. Graw, Camden, N. J. 

My Dear Brother:— Tours at hand. I am very sorry indeed to 
be obliged to decline your invitation. There is no man I would 
rather work with than yourself. I hope you will have a glorious 
meeting. I have still several important enterprises on hand and 
would be glad of the help you suggest. 

Very truly yours, 

W. F. MALLALIEU. 



WILLARD F. MALLALIEU, 

BISHOP OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 

AUBURNDALE, MASS. 

Nov. 24. 1900. 
Rev. J. B. Graw, Camden, N. J. 

My Dear Brother:— I was very pleasantly surprised at the last 
moment to find myself placed with the New Jersey Conference. 
I hope every effort will be made to secure the full apportionment 
for each benevolent cause. Much more do I hope that the revival 
spirit may break out all over the Conference. I find that our 
church has Increased in the last ten years in New Jersey only 
17 per cent. We stand next to the foot in all evangelical denomi- 
nations in this respect. What can we do to turn the tide? I 
venture to suggest that you urge upon every pastor the Impor- 
tance of commencing revival services at the earliest possible 
moment, and let everything else give way. I will write to the 
other presiding elders something as I am writing to you. I believe 
If all will go to work we may as well have 3000 or 4000 converts 
before Conference meets. Always truly yours, 

W. F. MALLALIEU. 



404 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

FROM A FRIEND FORMERLY LIVING IN BALTIMORE. 

Cottage City, Mass. 
Rev. J. B. Graw. 

Esteemed Friend:— I wonder if you remember that during the 
session of the General Conference of 1876, held in Baltimore, that 
you were my guest? I need not say how you won the hearts of 
my two boys, Harry and Douglas. That same year Harry gradu- 
ated at "Wesleyan University. Since then my noble boy, Douglass, 
has passed away, after graduating at the head of a class of 80 
students in medicine at the Michigan University. Harry brought 
on an attack of lung trouble from overwork, and was obliged to 
go to Denver, where he is now one of the leading physicians, • • * 
I did not commence this letter to you intending to sing the praises 
of my boys, but to thank you for the article of yours I read in 
the General Conference Advocate of May 9th. I agree with you 
entirely. * • • But I guess I shall not see it in my time as I am 
In my seventy-fourth year. For the past year or two I have been 
compelled to use crutches, having fallen twenty-five feet from the 
upper veranda of my summer home. * * * How I should love to see 
you again. Two of the members that composed our party at Bal- 
timore (Dr. Newman was one— I forget the other brother's name) 
have gone home. I felt such a drawing, as the Quakers say, after 
reading your speeches to write to you that I could not desist. 

Do not answer this till you return home and get rested. 
Sincerely yours, 

J S . 

N. B.— I know that Harry would like to be remembered did he 
know I were writing to you. 



New Brunswick, May 9, 1898. 
Rev. Dr. Graw. 

My Dear Brother:— By this time you are fixed away all right 
in your new home in Millville. I am glad to congratulate you on 
your appointment as presiding elder of Bridgeton District. "The 
fitest must survive." Yours truly, 

G. C. STANGER. 



FROM AN ARMY COMRADE. 

Rahway, N. J., Feb. 13, 1901. 
Dear Chaplain :— You may not recollect me, but I was a mem- 
ber of Co. E, 10th Regt. of New Jersey Volunteers when you were 
our chaplain, and in all the years since the war I have never lost 
sight of you in your ups and downs and controversies on the 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 405 

temperance question. I have sometimes been a dissenter from 
your views, but in the one great object to be attained I am with 
you always. 

It has never been my good fortune to meet you or to be for- 
tunate enough to hear you preach in any of the pulpits you have 
occupied since the close of the war. I have a little red Testament 
somewhere about the house yet, that you gave me at Camp Clay, 
so many years ago. 

I am extremely sorry to know you are sick and hope you will 
soon recover. I see by to-day's Inquirer that Rahway was your 
birthplace. I have lived here for the last ten years. 

The surviving members of the 10th N. J. Volunteers are dwind- 
ling away and soon all will be gone. There are one or two that I 
see once in a while, and it does me good to have a talk about the 
stirring times of long ago. Hoping this may find you much im- 
proved when it reaches you, is the earnest wish of your old com- 
rade, RILEY LETTS, 

Late of Co. .E, 10th N. J. Vols. 



Letters of Condolence. 



FROM REV. C. H. MEAD. 

New York, March 22. 1901. 
Dear Bro. Gi'aw:— The news of your father's death came to me 
while I was speaking in Massachusetts. It came as a terrible shock 
to me and it is a blow from which I shall not soon recover. * * * 
I want you to know that I sympathize with you and your mother 
and all who have been bereft, for I, too, have lost "a brother be- 
loved," and my heart is sore over his going away. For years he 
and I have been warm, personal friends. He was a delightful 
"Radical," and I am not much of a conservative myself. Our 
radicalism caused us to "tie up" to each other from the very be- 
ginning of our acquaintance— a quarter of a century ago— and 
every year since brought us into a closer friendship. He could 
give (and take) sturdy blows, and yet was as sympathetic and 
tender hearted as a child. I did not think the pleasant hours we 
spent together at National Park last fall were to be our last on 
earth together, and I must wait for our next meeting "in the bet- 
ter land." You will give my love and sympathy to your mother 
and accept same for yourself and all the rest of his dear ones. 

Yours sincerely, 

C. H. MEAD. 



4o6 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

FIRST 
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Trenton, N. J., Feb'y 19, 1901. 
A. C. Graw. My Dear Brother:— I cannot tell you how deeply I 
sympathize with you, your mother and others of your family, in 
this hour of sore bereavement. 

The Conference, the state, and the church at large, have suf- 
fered a great loss in the death of your greatly-beloved and hon- 
ored father. Be assured, together with your family, of my earnest 
prayers and profound regret that I cannot be at the funeral. 

Yours affectionately, 
WESLEY A. HUNSBERGER. 



FROM CHARLES RHOADS. 

Haddonfield. 2mo. 21, 1901. 

Alexander C. Graw. Dear Friend:— The intelligence of the de- 
cease of thy father has come to us with a deep feeling of the loss 
that has been sustained by this state in the removal of on© who 
has been so important a factor in promoting civic righteousness 
within is borders; so constant in the combat against intemperance 
and the liquor traffic in both state and nation, and whose voice and 
pen have wielded so potent an influence in the church. 

My first acquaintance with him began some twenty-five years 
ago, when he came to Haddonfield to organize a local auxiliary to 
the New Jersey State Temperance Alliance, which was then in 
active existence. I afterwards was frequently in concert with him 
on committees to wait on and urge the legislature to pass local 
option and other laws to restrict or abolish the liquor traffic, and 
we always felt that we had a strong advocate in Dr. Graw for our 
cause. 

I desire to extend my sympathies to thee in the personal be- 
reavement that has been suffered, and yet to rejoice In the 
blessed hope and trust that through the merits and mercies of the 
Lord Jesus Christ, whom he strove so zealously to serve, thy 
father is now reaping the reward of his labors on earth. "They 
that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and 
they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and 
ever." Daniel 12:3. Sincerely thy friend, 

CHAS. RHOADS. 



FROM REV. G. K. MORRIS, Lir.D. 

Cleveland, Ohio, April 10, 1901. 
A. C. Graw. Dear Bro. :— Yours received. * * * I cannot tell you 
how I was shocked by the news of his death. Even now It seems 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 407 

impossible. He was so robust in appearance and so full of vigor 
tha^4ie ought to have lived to be a hundred years old. 

Yours truly, 

GEO. K. MORRIS. 



FROM BISHOP FITZGERALD. 

St. Louis, Mo., May 13. 
A. C. Graw. Deer Bro. :— * * * We were together as General 
Conference delegates and had pleasant social intercourse. * * * I 
remember Dr. Graw with great pleasure as a brother in the min- 
istry who sought the advancement of every good cause. 

Yours truly, 

J. N. FITZGERALD. 



Office of 
TIMES PUBLISHING CO. 

Norristown, Pa., Feb'y 21, 1901. 

Mrs. Rev. J. B. Graw. Dear Madam:— I notice in the papers to- 
day the obsequies of my old army friend, your husband. It had 
always been my intention and fixed purpose to look up my old 
and valued friend, and renew the acquaintance of our younger 
days, and our army life. He and I were congenial, and different 
from the other officers of the 10th N. J. We were together most 
of the time and our likes and dislikes were the same. He was my 
senior in years and I was very glad to have so good a friend that 
I could go to and be advised, and I never sought him In vain. We 
several times tried to get our comrades to meet, but he never 
would agree to go anywhere but to some place where we could not 
get "liquor." And this suited me, but not the others, and so it 
happened that we never got together, and I am very sorry. He 
has been a very busy man and so have I, and it has so happened 
that our congenial natures have been separated, and now finally. 

He was a noble man— great hearted and generous. It has been 
my loss that we were so long separated, and I am very sorry that 
he has now left us. 

Will you kindly accept from his old army friend the condol- 
ence that I hope will be of some little comfort to you, and that 
your health may be good, and that the final and great consolation 
of the happy meeting above may comfort and console you always. 

Yours truly, 

WM. RENNYSON. 



H 



408 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

FROM REV. J. L. HOWARD. 

Cape May, N. J., Feb. 19. 
My Dear Bro. ;— My heart goes out to you in your sorrow. How 
we and our people loved your father. I found some of my people 
crying in their homes as I went calling, they having learned of 
your father's departure. Our children felt particularly sad in the 
intelligence of his decease. Yours truly, 

J. L. HOWARD. 



FROM A PRESBYTERIAN CLERGYMAN. 

Ringoes, N, J., Feb. 19, 1901. 
A. C. Graw. Dear Bro. :— I was sorry to hear yesterday of your 
father's death. I realize that in him I had a true friend. * * * I 
desire to extend (through you) sympathy to your mother and each 
member of her family, as well as to yourself. A host of people 
will miss him, who was foremost in ever good work. 

Yours truly, 

SAMUEL H. POTTER, 
Formerly a. member of the N. J. Conference. 



REV. J. B. GRAW, D.D. 



409 



Statistical Summary. 

Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 

Tke following statistical summary shows in compact form the 
work of the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union, since its 
organization In 1874, and is taken from the "Life of Mrs. S. J. 
Downs," of which Dr. Graw was editor. 



Yr. Where Held. President. Unions. 

1874 Newark, Mrs. Denman 2 

1875 Hackettst'n, Mrs. Denman . 3 

1876 Paterson, Mrs, Denman .... 17 

1877 Trenton, Mrs. Denman 17 

1878 Camden, Mrs. Denman 29 

1879 Mt. Holly, Mrs. Denman .... 38 

1880 Millville, Mrs. Denman 33 

1881 Lambertville, Mrs. Downs .. 26 

1882 Bridgeton, Mrs. Downs 39 

1883 Hackettst'n, Mrs. Downs ... 50 

1884 Newark, Mrs. Downs 77 

1885 Trenton, Mrs. Downs 100 

1886 Plainfield, Mrs. Downs 132 

1887 Millville, Mrs. Downs 176 

1888 Passaic, Mrs. Downs 200 

1889 Ocean Grove, Mrs. Downs .. 215 

1890 Atl'ntic C'y, Mrs. Downs H . 204 

1891 Salem, Mrs. Downs 208 

1892 Newark, Mrs. Bourne 165 

1893 Camden, Mrs. Bourne 154 

1894 Jersey City, Mrs. Bourne ... 165 

1895 Paterson, Mrs. Bourne 183 

1898 Bridgeton, Mrs. Bourne .... 203 

1897 Trenton, Mrs. Bourne 205 

1898 Elizabeth, Mrs. Bourne 213 

1899 Atlantic City, Mrs. Bourne . 217 

1900 New Brunsw'k Mrs. Bourne 211 

Total 



plains the seeming decrease in members and Unions. 

•Honorary members not included. 

No account was kept of money raised for local work previous to 
1881. 

There were 33 Y's in 1892; 25 in 1893, 4 in 1894, 21 in 1895, 34 in 1896, 
37 in 1897, 25 in 1898, 29 in 1899, 21 in 1900. 





Money Raised. 




Memb's 


"State & Nat'4. Local Work 


Total. 


"69 


13*70 








13 70 


190 


97 78 








97 78 


224 


44 17 








44 17 


469 


164 80 








164 80 


563 


112 70 








112 70 


491 


98 05 








98 05 


517 


103 40 


1340 00 


1443 40 


1200 


341 06 


3263 48 


3604 54 


,1806 


547 19 


4667 41 


5214 60 


3396 


943 34 


15764 76 


16708 10 


4214 


1242 47 


20050 54 


21293 01 


5159 


2108 99 


22742 43 


24851 42 


7423 


2957 77 


29308 60 


32266 37 


7427 


333?, 61 


31312 81 


34645 42 


8411 


3278 21 


34380 24 


37658 45 


6657 


2873 33 


35078 35 


37951 68 


6732 


3270 15 


39101 10 


42371 25 


7113 


3991 78 


43234 97 


47226 75 


*6208 


3023 64 
3357 18 




}3 


3023 64 


♦6169 


17526 


20884 11 


*6307 


3103 07 


35962 03 


39065 10 


*7337 


3657 34 


35755 63 


39412 87 


*7838 


4869 21 


29411 47 


34280 68 


*7954 


4527 97 


31287 00 


35814 97 


*7646 


3250 32 


29250 98 


32501 30 


*7461 


3007 22 


38689 


50 
L3 


41696 72 




J54317 45 


$498128 : 


$552445 58 


Qbers 


were counted 


. 


This ex- 



a^fje EotlOf nntf QSitfton. 



Rev ALPRBoTavi. 
Cho by H L. ti 



Jiirtgcs 7' ist0>4. 
(Ocdicaied to Rev J » Guaw, D D.) 



Df H L. CfttinuR. 



1 Thy I>or<l is with thee, mijtlify man of va - lor, Rise and o-bey the 

2 Thy Lord is with thee, for tlie fight he needs thee. He will defend what 
'.i. Gath- er the host, be bold be caIn), be cheerful. Trust not to numbers, 
•1. Charge on ihe foe, sword of tbo fiOrd and Gideon, Blow now the trumpets 



fejip^p^^^^^^^pi 



' word he speaks to thee ; Go in thy miifht, pnt from thy face its pal - lor , 

ev - er "hiay oppose ; Strange tho' the way, yet follow where he leads thee, 

choose the strong and brave; Send to their homes the rewards and the fearfnl, 

throngh the hastilc camp? Put to the root the frightened hosts of Midi - an. 



m. 



-»'—0 



m 



-Jitr^Er: 



:^-^ 



=zeiLi-5z:'?=f=:: rt?=^z:.:?z=fcjri 



:g-c: 



^i^^iiSip^^^^ 



Strong In his strength, go set thy people free. 
He leads to vict'ry o- ver ulDthy foes. 



' The sword of the Lord and of 



In his own way the Lord thy God will save. 
Breiak every pitcher! wave each blazing lamp. ^~k, , 



Z^ZJ^i. 



ip: 






Gid 






on," With three hnndredtried and chosen men, With trnmpi-t and 






Ep>gg^^^3= 



J. K^ 



break bv God's (;onin>nnd . .And llic 



pitcher in ev- ery hand, T«> blow and break bv God's commnnd . .And Ibc 



-^-3-f-. 



?.M=:^=i 






dnr^^zinj^ 



-^'^-^ 



*i 



foes will fly us the faithful cry The sword Of the Lord and Gid- c- on. 



Hf. n R •^ 



■■)^ 



1901 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



027 261 401 5 



